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THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

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A.D. 1684-1726

Edited by EDMUND HOBHOUSE, M.D.

‘Medicines ac Musarum Cultor9

TRADE AGENTS: SIMPKIN MARSHALL, LTD. Stationers’ Hall Court, London, E.C.4

PRINTED BY THE STANHOPE PRESS, ROCHESTER *934 - v- p C f, ,s*j FOREWORD

The Manuscripts which furnish the material for these pages consist of four large, vellum-bound volumes of the ledger type, which were found by Mr. Henry Hobhouse among his papers at Hadspen House, Somerset. One volume consists of Diary only. This, with the exception of some periods of illness, gives a complete daily record from June 25th, 1718, to August 12th, 1726, not long before the death of the writer. The other three volumes, dating from 1684 to 1726, contain Accounts, very detailed as regards expenses and receipts and of great interest. We learn what clothes the writer wore, what books he read—or at least bought—what horses and carriages he had, what were his amusements and journeys, and everything to do with his household. In the third volume of Accounts there is a Diary extending from March, 1708/9 to March 1709/10, when it ends abruptly. That the writer kept a Diary later on is certain from the fact that he specifically refers to it in his accounts for 1713, but, unfortunately, this Diary seems to be lost and the extant record does not begin again till 1718. The following chapters 1 to 8 (forming Part I of this Memoir) were left by Dr. Edmund Hobhouse on his death in March, 1933, almost ready for the press. Extracts from the Diary and Accounts are given in Part II together with facsimile leaves of the Manuscript and a few explanatory notes. The interest of these Account Books and Diary lies largely in the fact that they illustrate the ordinary life of a small provincial town in the West of England, which only differed from other small towns of the same population in that it was an episcopal seat and a Parliamentary as well as a Municipal Borough. 7 FOREWORD

The writer, Dr. Claver Morris, was a man of very varied interests and accomplishments, a successful physician, a holder of public offices, an enthusiastic musician, well read in the science of the time, especially in chemistry, versed in classics, something of a mathematician with a taste for mechanical contrivances of all sorts, a landowner, and last, but not least, a lover of social gatherings. His Diary, therefore, though for the most part a bald record of events with rare comments, gives a picture of life from the most varied angles. H. H.

Note.—A list of Claver Morris’ books, with their cost prices, was published (1932) in pamphlet form entitled “The Library of a Physician,” by the Biographical Society of London. Editor, Dr. Edmund Hobhouse.

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8 CONTENTS

PART I Chap. Page i. BIOGRAPHICAL II

ii. DAILY LIFE AT WELLS 18

hi. FOOD AND LIQUOR . 21

IV. DR. MORRIS’ MEDICAL PRACTICE 25

v. SCHOOL LIFE OF HIS CHILDREN 31

VI. FINANCE AND PRICES 35

VII. MUSIC AT WELLS 39

VIII. ENCLOSURE OF COMMONS . 44

APPENDIX A . 46

APPENDIX B 48

PART II

FACSIMILES OF DIARY Frontispiece and 50

EXTRACTS FROM DIARY 51

1709-1710 51

1719-1726 63

EXTRACTS FROM ACCOUNTS 137

I RECEPTA (1685-1722) 137

II EXPENSA (1685-1696) 141

GLOSSARY . 151

INDEX 153

9

PART I

CHAPTER I

BIOGRAPHICAL

Claver Morris was bom in 1659 at Caundle Bishop in Dorset¬ shire where his father was rector, just before the proclamation of Charles II, and died at Wells, Somerset, a few weeks before the death of George I, so that his life covered just live reigns. He was born in a Royalist and Tory atmosphere, his father, despite his profession, having served with the Royalist army as a standard-bearer in the Cavalry (vexillifer equestris, later called a cornet). All his life long Morris remained a vehement Tory and High Churchman. Of his life before he came to Wells in 1686 we know only a few facts. He matriculated at New Hall, Oxford, on March 13th, 1675/6, took his B.A. in 1679, M.A. 1682, M.B. 1685 and M.D. 1691. In 1683 he became Extra Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians, and from entries in his accounts it is practically certain that he must have practised at Salisbury before coming to Wells. In 1685 he makes the following entry in his accounts: “On October 13 1685 I was married to Miss Grace Green of London by Dr. Littleton at Chelsey Nr. London.” She was the orphan daughter of John Green, member of the Cloth Workers Company, and something of an heiress. She brought him two houses in Crane Court, Fleet Street, afterwards sold for over £1,000, and £400 on deposit in the Chamber of the City of London, i.e., the Treasury of the Corporation, which in this way guarded the interests of the orphan citizens. It may be noted here that in all his three marriages Morris has an eye to the main chance. Like Tennyson’s Northern Farmer, if he did not marry for money, he went where money was. It was no doubt his first wife’s money which enabled him to 11 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN take his M.B. degree and settle down in a style befitting a physician of that time. He leased a house in Wells of some pretensions with a brewhouse attached. From 1685 onwards, almost up to the time of his death in 1726-7, we have his accounts giving not only his personal and estate receipts and expenditure but also the names of every patient he saw and the fees received. He (perhaps prudently) does not give the diagnoses, but in his Diary he occasionally refers to the nature of their illnesses. From the accounts we gather the main facts of his life. He had a daughter, born in April 1688, who died in July of that year, and his wife Grace died in June 1689. He puts in his accounts the sum of £50 “for the interment of one of the best and kindest of wives”. Of this sum no less than £14 ns. was for gloves provided for mourners. He remained a widower till 1696 and pays a widower’s tax of 26s. a year (this entry only occurs twice so presumably he was allowed some years to consider remarriage). We learn from the Diary of Dr. Kidder, Bishop of Bath and Wells1 (1691-1703) that Claver Morris (or as he is called there— Morice) carried on during the years 1693-6 a courtship with the Bishop’s daughter. This lady (according to her father’s account) had at first an inclination towards him, but subsequently changed her mind after a long negotiation of which the Bishop gives a detailed account, not at all creditable to Morris (if true). The engagement, if there was one, was broken off. There is not a word of this business in Morris’ extant writings, so he was probably rather ashamed of the episode. Dr. Kidder and his wife were both killed while in bed by the fall of a chimney in the Palace during the great storm of November 26th, 1703. In 1696 Morris married as his second wife Elizabeth Jeans, a widow, nee Dawe, of Ditcheat, near Castle Cary. Curiously enough, there is only one item in his accounts relating to this marriage, viz., “To Lambert, Collector of taxes, for my marriage

1 Published by the Somerset Record Society, Vol. xxxvn, pp. 134-

144- 12 BIOGRAPHICAL

£5.” He does not seem to have even bought a new coat or a pair of gloves for the occasion. This may be due to the fact that his wife was a widow. She brought him a property at West Pennard close to one he already owned at West Bradley. In 1697 his daughter Betty was born, the object of his warmest affection and the sole perpetuator of his family. In 1699 his second wife died, and, in contrast to the entire absence of wedding expenditure, there is a whole page of accounts devoted to her funeral, headed by a coffin at the top, “In com¬ memoration of the dismal solemnity of interring my most ten¬ derly affectionate wife, the daughter of Mr. Edward Dawe of Ditcheat.” The funeral expenses amounted to £61 5s., including £iz for mourning rings and £13 16s. for gloves. He subsequently put up an elaborate tablet to her in Ditcheat Church with a long and typical 18th Century inscription in Latin, the only interest of which is to show that she sacrificed her life in vain hope of saving her unborn child. In the same year (1699) he began building a house for himself in Wells. We learn from Mrs. J. A. Robinson’s notes on Bishop Kidder’s life (S.R.S. vol. 37, page 216) that this house is the one still standing in the East Liberty (then called Mountroy Lane). It is now (1933) occupied by Prebendary Denison. This house took three years to build and cost Morris £807 14s. 6|d. In 1703 he made his third and last matrimonial venture signal¬ ised in the accounts by the entry, “At Crewkerne met and en¬ gaged myself to my dear Molly Bragge.” There is a strong presumption that these tender words represent a transaction which was quite appropriately put in his ledger amongst more commercial items. Morris later on alludes to a lady at Crewkerne who acted as a go-between in matrimonial matters (a not infre¬ quent figure in the lighter literature of the 18th Century) and it seems probable that he met Molly Bragge on neutral ground at her house and arranged matters through her. In any case, as the daughter of people who were considerable shipowners, wealthy and important in Dorsetshire (if not of the first rank), she wras a good match with £3,000 as her portion. It seems to have been THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN quite a happy marriage and her death in 1725 left Morris a broken and lonely man. He was married on August 31st, 1703, at Sadborough, Dorset, the home of the Bragges, with considerable ceremony, and brought his bride back to Wells in September. On September 18th he records: “I went to Sadborrow in my chariot to fetch home my wife and on September 25 th we both came home to Wells being met by 100 Horsemen who accompanied us.” The journey was quite a triumphal procession for the bells were rung at Somerton, 10 miles away, and also those of the Cathedral and Parish Church in Wells, and as he pays 4s. to the “Fidlers” there was evidently music as well. A white camelot coat which cost him £4 us. was clearly Morris’ wedding garment. He was now a prosperous man with his own house at Wells, an -extensive if not very lucrative practice (see Chapter IV), considerable landed possessions and over £2,000 in cash mainly put out in loan or mortgage.1 In 1705 a daughter (Molly) was born who died the next year; the third infant he had lost, apparently all from smallpox.2 In 1709 he had a son to his great joy. This son, though he survived his father, was never strong and died in his 30th year. Morris records that in 1712 he had to dismiss a nurse, Hester Harding, to whom he gave £1 5s., “because put off for having the King’s Evil (i.e. scrofula) and infecting my little son with it whom she attended.” This entry shows that, though their nature was quite unknown, the infectivity of so-called scrofulous lesions was recognised. From now on Morris’ life seems to have been one of increasing activity. In 1706 he was sworn Commissioner for the 4s. Land Tax and in 1709 Commissioner for Sewers, offices which he

1 Between 1706 and 1711 he bought two estates, one called Puridge, near Pilton, for £800, and a larger one called Ebden, near Worle, for over £2,670. He also acquired farms at West Bradley, Wayford, and Dulcote, near Wells. 2 Her remains were interred in the cathedral “before the doors {fores) of the chapel of Blessed Mary” at a cost of 30s. 14 BIOGRAPHICAL held till the end of his life,1 In November 1717 he was ad¬ mitted into the Company of the Mercers in Wells and made a Burgess of the City, an honour which he shared with Sir W. Wyndham, Sir Coppleston Bampfield, “my nephew Bragge,” Mr. John Horner, Counsellor Malet, and others. The fees amounted to £4 5s. 3d. and his share of the expenses for wine and feasting £3 14s. 3d., besides alms to the poor. In 1718 he received a severe shock. His beloved daughter Betty was married clandestinely in the Cathedral by the Rev. Samuel Hill to John Burland, son of a squire at Steyning in West Somerset; an old family but with mortgaged estates. It was clearly the culmination of a love affair which had been brewing for some time, as Morris tells us that he had taken all the pains he possibly could to prevent the match. The only real objection to Burland seems to have been financial. Morris, however, had good reason to be angry, for Betty was under age and the performance of the marriage though ecclesiastically binding was quite irre¬ gular. Hill, who performed the ceremony, was prohibited from ever serving in the Cathedral again “on any pretext,” and the Sacrist, Thomas Cooper, who had given Betty away, was sus¬ pended for a year. Morris’ anger was real and lasting; he turned Betty out of the house and refused to see her again till nine months later, when the following entry in the Diary shows that the females of his house¬ hold, including Betty’s stepmother, who seems to have sym¬ pathised with her all through, compelled him to capitulate. “October 23, 1719. My daughter with my wife, Mrs. Evans (a paying guest) and all the maid servants came into my chamber while I was putting on my clothes. I refused to see her and ordered her to be had down, and going into my closet I shut the door. But she opened it and with abundance of begging and crying she forced me to beg God Almighty to bless her. My wife kept my daughter to dinner.”

1 In 1724 we find him acting as one of the District Commissioners for collecting the special tax levied on Papists by an Act of that year. D THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

The picture of this short and very stout gentleman of sixty (his height was 5ft. 6ins. and his weight 15 stone) struggling into his clothes while the massed females of the household assailed him with tears, prayers, and upbraiding, was one of more humour than dignity; but these shock tactics were justified in the result. John Burland was not at once forgiven, but reconciliation was soon complete and there was entire amity thenceforth between the two households. The marriage seems in fact to have been quite a happy one, and of Betty’s numerous descendants, Burlands, Keates, Durn- fords and Huddlestons, two at least achieved distinction. John Burland, the son, became a Baron of the Exchequer; his son John was M.P. for Totnes but died rather young. The most famous was John Keate, the celebrated Headmaster of Eton, who resembled his great-grandfather in shortness both of temper and stature and inherited his ability and vigour. His brother, William, was a surgeon of considerable reputation, but his fortunes were marred by the incurable reluctance of George Ill’s family to pay their doctor’s bills, and he died a poor man. In 1720 Morris was much upset by the sudden death in his house of a relation, Miss Nancy Dawe, apparently from acute meningitis. He describes her as “the most obliging, flexible, good- natured, Ingenious, and Civil Pretty girl of little more than n years old that ever I knew,” and he gives a long account of the elaborate funeral, from which it appears that it was then the custom for unmarried girls to have girls as their pall-bearers. His last years were mainly taken up with his practice and public duties which now included those of a Commissioner for the enclosure of two commons near Glastonbury (see Chapter VII). His wife’s death in 1725 seems to have been a great blow to him. The circumstances were very pathetic, as their son was only just recovering from the smallpox and had to be carried from his bed to see his dying mother in order to satisfy her that he was still alive. Shortly after this there is a melancholy entry in his Diary— “I dined alone the first time for 20 years.” In July 1726 he began to be seriously ill, but continued his

16 BIOGRAPHICAL

ordinary work and practice. On August 9 he writes: “I continued ill with my cold and eat only all this day a dish of Herb Porridge and in the evening a dish of Chocolate and Milk with Bread/' The last entry in the extant Diary is dated August 12, but he lived nearly eight months longer, dying on March 26, 1726/7, in his 67th year. Morris7 body was buried in the Cathedral behind the High Altar where a slab with C.M. on it still marks the spot. An elaborate memorial tablet with a bust, which was erected near by, has now been moved to the Cloisters. For the inscription on this tablet, see Appendix A. An interesting extract from Morris7 Will is given in Appendix B. CHAPTER II

DAILY LIFE AT WELLS

When the hieroglyphics of his Diary1 are interpreted it is possible to form a very fair picture of what Claver Morris’ daily life was like, and to some extent of that of the community in which he lived. He rose early, certainly before 6 a.m.; for he frequently went to Matins in the Cathedral, which was at six o’clock. At Matins he met various people, one or more of whom he sometimes brought home to breakfast, which presumably was between seven and eight o’clock. Before or after breakfast he went two or three times a week to the Coffee-house (the Crown or the Christopher) to look at the newsletters, for two at least of which he was a subscriber. There he meets friends, gossips, transacts business and, very possibly, even sees patients. It was not an uncommon thing in those days for a physician to attend a coffee¬ house regularly where his clientele could meet him. Between breakfast and dinner he would either see patients at home or in town, or would work in his laboratory or study, or practise some music. Dinner was between twelve and one, with the family, Mrs. Evans (his paying guest for many years) and very often one or more other guests, for Morris was a hospitable man. As a rule, after dinner, if he was not seeing patients at home, he worked in his laboratory, played and sang or studied, or fre¬ quently played some game, generally “tables,” i.e., backgammon, with a friend. There was, of course, no such thing as afternoon tea, and no meal is mentioned between dinner and supper. If it was a Tuesday, he went in the evening to the weekly

1 For these hieroglyphics, see the prefatory note to Part II, p. 49. 18 DAILY LIFE AT WELLS

music meeting in the Vicars’ Hall, which he rarely missed if he could help it. Besides the weekly music meeting there was a little coterie of whom Morris was one, who for some time had a monthly meet¬ ing which in the early years is called “The Moon Feast” (being probably fixed for the full moon to enable country members to come) or “The Mutual Entertainment,” and, later, simply “our Weekly Meeting.” They met at one another’s houses for supper and general conviviality, and often kept quite late hours. This little company seems to have been rather select, and included men from well-known families, e.g., Horner, Berkeley, Hamilton, and others. As a weekly meeting it figures amongst the last records of the Diary. Although he rose so early, he very often kept late hours: he records frequently being up till twelve, one, or even later, at some social function or meeting with a few friends. There are many occasions on which it is clear that his hours of sleep could not have been more than five or six at the outside, and he records once going to bed at two o’clock and rising between four and five to prepare for a journey. His daily routine was often disturbed by one of these expedi¬ tions or by his official duties as Commissioner for Sewers, for the Land Tax, or, during a considerable period, for the enclosure of the Commons in the neighbourhood of Glastonbury which he initiated. Besides the ordinary social life, there were not infrequent interludes when a company of players arrived and gave perform¬ ances, or a juggler, a fire-eater or some cudgelplayers helped to enliven the inhabitants of the little town, and, at times, the presence of a regiment contributed to the gaiety and provided musical talent. Occasionally horseraces took place on Kingsmoor, Clanden Down or at Masbury on Mendip, and bull-baiting, cockfighting and Morris dances all figure amongst the amusements; these probably took place at fair times. On October 20, 1714, he pays is. to the Morris dancers and is. 6d. at the Crown to the bull- l9 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

baiting; amongst Misc. Receipts, 1718, is an entry: “won at the race from Masbury to Priddy 10s.”1 Life was much simpler and there was much homely hospitality, friends coming in to dinner or supper with slight formality and taking pot luck. Much public business, such as that of the Sewers Commis¬ sioners, was transacted in one of the inns, and this entailed drinking, as frequent entries in his accounts show. The inns were an important feature in the life of the city and were frequented by all the most respectable inhabitants including the church dignitaries. When George Far well, Morris’ brother- in-law, was made a Prebendary, he celebrated the occasion by a dinner at the Mitre. Evidently men rarely met either for busi¬ ness or pleasure without having a bottle of wine or a glass of October ale, more rarely a glass of lemonade or a cup of tea. The picture presented by the Diary is that of a hardworking but not overhurried life, except for those periods of stress which come to every busy doctor; a life diversified by constant inter¬ change of hospitalities amongst people whose social differences were well marked and recognised, but who merged their class distinctions in the neighbourly feelings engendered by the reality of their local existence.

1 He also gambled at the “Ace of Hearts” and elsewhere. Morris spent much of his leisure time in playing games with his friends. His favourite game was Tables (i.e. Backgammon), but he also played Mangola, Whisk (i.e. Whist), Cribbage, Hazzard, Pam, Passage, Drink as You Please, etc. Ninepins and Bowls were no doubt outdoor games. There is no mention of “Ombre,” the fashionable game of cards at Court in Queen Anne’s reign (see Pope’s Rape of the Rock).

20 CHAPTER III

FOOD AND LIQUOR

Unlike the later Somerset Diarist, James Woodforde,1 Morris only occasionally alludes to what he ate and drank, though his Accounts show that his annual bill for liquor was very consider¬ able. His food on the other hand seems to have been of a simple character, though no doubt ample in quantity. That his breakfast was a very early meal, probably about 7 a.m., is clear from the fact that he often takes friends back to breakfast after church, and the Matins, which was fixed by an Elizabethan Ordinance at 6 a.m. on week days, certainly could not have lasted more than one hour. Morris’ breakfast meal seems to have varied from cold beef on one occasion to chocolate on another. Dinner, which was taken about mid-day, was a substantial meal. It rarely went beyond one course, a dish of mutton or beef steaks, a quarter of lamb, a stewed rump of beef, or some chicken. Venison was not infrequently sent him by one of his country gentlemen friends, e.g. Colonel Horner or the Bishop. Morris mentions his wife making a venison pasty in the kitchen, and potted venison was brought out as an emergency ration for a late guest. While he occasionally dined “on three fine cold trouts,” fish from the sea was rather uncommon owing to the difficulty of carriage. On one occasion he has a present of lobsters from the Bragges. Fish was rather a dish for supper, Morris supped once on sturgeon and again on “broiled white herrings,” and he provides six “Mackres” (mackerel) at qd. a piece for the Club when it meets at his house, but the mackerel were washed down by “a bowl of the finest Punch much commended made after my manner.”

1 The Diary of a Country Parson (1758-1802). 21 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Supper, however, was sometimes very substantial. After a “Consort of Music” at his house on July u, 1726, not long before his death, he gives his eleven guests a cold side of mutton, a cold breast of veal, a couple of neates tongues and a “gelat,” drinks, with as a bowl of punch, a bottle of claret and many bottles of October beer and ale. If his food was simple as a rule, his liquor was varied, strong and plentiful. Morris had a brewer’s full equipment and bought regularly about 100 to 150 bushels of malt a year, which enabled him to produce about 700 to 1000 gallons each of strong October and light beer. On various occasions he mentions drinking his own beer when it was five, seven or nine years old. The strength this implies makes the quantity presumably brewed more amazing, and as there is no evidence in his accounts of brewing for other households, it would seem that his home consump¬ tion of beer varied from 3 J to 5 J gallons a day. Morris enter¬ tained largely, and about Christmas time had parties of twenty- five to thirty people when the consumption would be very large. His guests were probably wise enough not to drink water, which was got from surface wells no doubt somewhat impure. The small beer which the servants drank was the common drink at a gentleman’s breakfast up to a much later day. Besides the beer, Morris records buying on two or three occasions “Red Streak Sider” from Herefordshire paying £1 13s. for a half-hogshead with carriage. He mentions the “Sider” of his own county, but that from Herefordshire was clearly con¬ sidered the best. Many different kinds of wine figure in his accounts. The French claret which he bought in barrels chiefly from the Bragges was no doubt smuggled, in fact one consignment was seized by the Customs House officers at Crewkerne en route. Two others and one of brandy he takes in himself in the middle of the night. Thus: “September 21, 1724. I upped to let Coggin of Somerson in about 4 o’clock with one Ancker of Brandy which weighed 87 lb. of which 14 lb. was allowed for the cask.” His relations the Bragges were fined £1,200 in 1726 for smug- FOOD AND LIQUOR gling, which shows the extent of the contraband trade then carried on and patronised by quite respectable citizens. Besides French claret, Morris buys Gallicia claret, white Lisbone also called Mountain Wine or white port, red port, Canary, Figuera (from Portugal), Visan (from Spain), and Tent, a wine now usually used for sacramental purposes. On one occa¬ sion Morris mentions paying is. 3d. for a pint of “Sack” at the Christopher; this would be white wine, either sherry or canary. His most ordinary drinks seem to have been claret, and white Lisbone and red port, but during the French wars claret was no doubt difficult to get. A good deal of wine was drunk at funerals, mostly sherry and claret, mulled in the winter. All his friends and relations expected entertainment, and Morris was not the man to disappoint them, whether at home or in the inns that he visited. Amongst other drinks mentioned by Morris are black cherry brandy, which he gave to Lord Conway’s keeper in Gloucester¬ shire, and a mixture of brandy and lemon juice which he probably kept for making punch “after my manner.” There is also an odd item in the accounts—“a bushell of primroses for making wine, is.” Cowslip wine was of course frequently made and still is made in some districts, but primrose was not common. Tea, coffee and chocolate were infrequent luxuries, though they were all known in England in Morris’ time and could be obtained at the coffee houses which first began to be established about 1650. Morris records as unusual: “I breakfasted on tea (at home).” “I breakfasted on chocolate (at Mr. Burland’s).” “I drank coffee at Mr. Hillses (after morning church).” He also records purchases of tea in small quantities. In 1712 bohea cost him 7s. 6d. for a quarter pound and green tea 5s. Chocolate was relatively much cheaper; he buys it at 3s. 6d. and 4s. a pound, probably unground as he also purchases a chocolate mill for 6d. Of other non-alcoholic drinks the only mention in the accounts is of lemonade and citron water, probably made from limes. These may have been used for medicinal purposes as the average man of the day would drink nothing lighter than small beer. I

23 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN was a iong time before tea and coffee became really popular drinks even in circles where the price was not prohibitive. Port wine began its reign amongst the gentry after the Portuguese Treaties in 1703 and continued to be fashionable till 1820 or even later, bringing drunkenness and gout in its train. In Morris’ time drunkenness was fairly common, but it does not seem to have been so bad as at the end of the 18th century, when three- bottle men were common and the gentlemen rarely rose sober from the table, even if they were able to rise at all. CHAPTER IV

DR. MORRIS5 MEDICAL PRACTICE

Morris practised as a physician, but in his days this title meant little as regards limitations of practice. The degree of M.D. was a guarantee not only of some social status but of a certain amount of general medical education. But when bishops through their chancellors and even archdeacons could grant licences to prac¬ tise, there was little certainty as to the fitness of the candidates. In 1723 Morris gives a testimonial to Mr. Cox to enable him to get a licence to practise in surgery from Chancellor Pope.1 As a recognised physician Morris occupied a good social position and was entitled to charge large fees when he could get them. He did not operate or attend confinements, as at that time and up to a much later date midwifery was carried on entirely by midwives. He visited patients and saw them independently at his own house, and was often in communication with the apothe¬ cary who was in charge of the case and corresponded to the general practitioner. But Morris apparently saw anyone who asked for his services, whether he was under another physician or not. An entry in his Diary of March 17, 1720, reads: £CI went to Sher¬ borne and saw Mr. Shirley who was very ill of a jaundice, and his physician Dr. Bull not descerning rightly his disease and pre¬ scribing very languid medicine for what he thought it to be, he (Mr. Shirley) desired mine assistance and I prescribed.55 The fees that Morris received were strictly proportioned to

1 The profession then, as now, was up in arms against quacks. In 1713 Morris gave 5 s. to the London Carrier “what I ordered him to give to Mr. J. a druggist at the Bull and Dragon in Fleet Street, towards procuring an Act of Parliament to suppress empirics.”

*5 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN the status of his patients. In Wells he charged the poor 2s. 6d., the small tradespeople 5s., the substantial townspeople and officials 1 os. 6d., and the gentry and clergy 1 guinea. Taking the value of money at that time as four or five times that of to-day, these fees are quite high, but those for country visits on the other hand seem low. Morris goes considerable distances out of Wells for a guinea and does not always charge two guineas even for going to Frome (seventeen miles). He only gets twelve guineas for going to Gloucestershire to see Lord Conway and the same amount for going to Exeter to see Lady Davies, although his journeys must have taken him nearly a week and involved staying at expensive inns. Morris’ professional earnings were, during his first three years of practice up to 1710 from £100 to £150 a year, after this he made between £200 and £300 a year regularly up to 1723. In 1718 he books 257 fees, a good many of which represented several visits. Roughly speaking he may be said to have made the equivalent of over £1,000 a year the last fifteen years of his life, a good income for a country physician. His average speed of travelling rarely exceeded four or four and a half miles an hour and in bad weather often less. A journey to Bath (twenty-five miles) takes him four to five hours and to Frome between three and four hours. When he attains the extraordinary speed of six miles an hour, he records the fact carefully. With frequent calls to distant points he must have spent forty to fifty hours a week in the saddle. Being a discreet doctor, Morris rarely mentions his patients’ ailments, but we get occasional glimpses of his therapeutic methods which are about on the level of his times. He tried to relieve his patients by bleeding, purging, clysters, sweating or emetics, and when these failed had little else to offer. Bleeding was then regularly practised by the profession, but it does not seem to have been used so freely as it was half a century later, in the “Port-wine and gout” era. In pharmacy Morris was undoubtedly an expert, and he cer- 26 DR. MORRIS’ MEDICAL PRACTICE

tainly spent a good deal of time in his laboratory where he had all sorts of appliances, furnace, stills, etc., used in the distillation of various drugs and compounds of his own devising. He often dispensed his own drugs and speaks more than once of his “arcana” (secrets), “my syrup nervinus., pulv: constip:, essentia pacifica,” etc. His chemical knowledge is specially mentioned in his epitaph (see pp. 47). Morris seems to have attended in his practice nearly all the families of country gentlemen resident within twenty or thirty miles of Wells. The following is a list abstracted from his accounts: Lord Fitzharding, Lord Berkeley, Lady Weymouth, Sir W. Wyndham, Sir C. Seymour of Maiden Bradley, Colonel Fownes of Petherton, Colonel Helyar of Coker, Lady Howell, Lady Frost, Gifford of Horsington, Phelips of Montacute, Colonel Horner of Mells, Captain Strode of Ham, Captain Trevilian of Curry Rivel, Sir J. Trevelyan of Nettlecombe, Harrington of Kelston, Warr of Hestercombe, Hippisley of Chewton, Coxe of Stone-easton, Newman of Cadbury, Bull of Yarlington: and outside the County of Somerset, Colonel Strangways, near Melbury (Dorset), Colonel Gwin of Ford Abbey (Dorset), Lady Davis at Sir C. Chudleigh’s (Devonshire), Lord Conway of Sandwell (Glouces¬ tershire), Colonel Hales of Cottles (Wiltshire). Morris was not above compounding cosmetics for his patients, he mentions his “hair butter” and his face and eye lotion. He also supplies one client regularly with scented snuff, charging as. 6d. a pound. He supplies preparations of his own making to Cupper, the apothecary in Wells. There were no trained pharma¬ cists in those days and the wholesale dealers in drugs supplied the crude substances which the doctors and apothecaries had to work up. Morris’ use of drugs seems to have been somewhat drastic, e.g., at Exeter he prescribed more than one dose of six grains of calomel for an infant of eighteen months, a dose rarely given to adults now-a-days. He evidently had a contempt for “languid medicines.” 27 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

The grim spectre of smallpox is rarely absent for long from the pages of his Diary, as of every other 18th century record. Morris experienced this fell disease at least three times in his own household; besides the loss of two infant children, his surviving son was in 1725 desperately ill with the confluent form. There is a most pathetic account in the Diary of how the boy when just recovering is carried in by his father to see his dying mother, who could not be convinced otherwise that he was still alive. Morris was often called in to see smallpox patients and records that on November 12, 1720 he received five guineas from Mr. Hebdon for “recovering his niece from the worst sort of crude confluent smallpox.” Morris had great confidence in his own methods of cure, and rarely doubted, when a patient recovered from a severe illness that it was due to his own skill. Thus on October nth, 1723 he writes: “Mr. Hamilton came and gave me a fee of 8 guineas for recovering his daughter Betty whose life everybody had des¬ paired of.” Apart from smallpox, “stone” which is frequently mentioned and measles from which his son nearly died in infancy, there are few diseases which we can certainly identify. A stock diagnosis of his is “ague quotidian and tertian”: this term no doubt covers many cases of malaria of which periodical rigors (i.e. shivering) were a feature. Whooping cough is surely indicated by “a con¬ vulsive cough” from which his young maid suffers and is like to die. Consumption or pthisis is mentioned in three or four cases including his own last illness. He also suffered from a very severe illness in 1709 which was diagnosed as “spotted fever”; this was probably typhus. The minor operations he recommended to his patients were usually performed by Mr. Lucas of Wells, e.g., removal of a polypus and of tonsils and opening of abscesses are all recorded. More formidable operations were performed by a Bristol or London Surgeon. In 1723 he notes, “Mr. Lucas and Mr. Pye of Bristol came and desired me to see the operation, being to take out a stone from a young fellow by the new method of cutting 28 DR. MORRIS’ MEDICAL PRACTICE

through the belly, which I did.”1 For the removal of cancer in the breast Morris sends his patient to Mr. Gay, Surgeon of Hatton Garden, London. A great deal of the doctors’ time must have been consumed in making prescriptions, to which great importance was attached in those days. They were lengthy and prolix, generally com¬ pounded of many ingredients of which the various properties had to be carefully balanced so as to make a harmonious whole. There was no question of light-heartedly scribbling “2 Tablets 3 times a day after food” with an indelible pencil on a half sheet, and leaving the rest to the chemist. The physician of 1700 sat down soberly (with his silver travelling ink-pot and pen, if away from home) and wrote out the whole in dog-Latin after much cogita¬ tion and a good deal of discussion if it was a consultation. Morris does not record the details of his prescriptions but we have occasional mention of the remedies employed, e.g., in 1720 he pays one shilling for a pound of “Sparrow bills for the pre¬ paration of a medicine.” These were small iron brads used by shoemakers. There is some evidence in the Diary as to the position of nursing at that time. There were no trained nurses then or for some 150 years afterwards. In long illnesses the task of watching the patient was undertaken by relays of friends. In Morris’ long illness in 1709, when he was probably delirious for some days, he gives a dinner to eight men friends who had acted as “watchers.” Among them were the Surgeon Lucas and the Apothecary Cupper. He left off “watchers” on the fifteenth day. On other occasions he presents gloves to those who had watched during the illness of his wife and sons. But in ordinary cases some woman was called in who was paid at a very low rate. In 1706 Morris records that he “paid Nurse Tanner for 11 weeks and 3 days tending my daughter

1 Note :—This very operation is described by S. Pye, Surgeon of Bristol in his pamphlet, “Some observations on the different methods of lithothomy.” 29 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Betty and my man and boy in the smallpox at 2s. 6d. a week.” The wet nurse who nursed his son Willie for some months was rather better paid at 4s. a week. The class of women then em¬ ployed in nursing were mostly of the type of Mrs. Gamp and their thieving and drinking were not infrequently the subject of mockery in the lighter literature of the 18 th century.

30 CHAPTER V

SCHOOL LIFE OF MORRIS’ CHILDREN

The Diary of Claver Morris, while not containing any detailed picture of the school life in those days, throws many interesting sidelights on the curriculum, discipline and cost of education. He had only two children who survived up to school age; a girl, Betty, by his second wife born in 1697, and a boy, Willie, by his third wife born in 1709. Betty went first to a day school in Wells in 1705 where she learnt sewing and other things at a cost of 6d. a week and a present of a 2s. 6d. pair of gloves to the Mistress at Christmas. In 1707 she began learning the violin and singing, for which her father paid 2 guineas and 1 guinea respectively per annum. In 1708 she went to a school at Salisbury, called by Morris a Dancing School, where she stayed about a year. Here the boarding fees were £3 a quarter, but Morris paid in addition 10s. each to the French master and dancing master and violin master, and 5s. to the writing master. He also gave 5s. to Mrs. Watts the teacher who dresses her “to encourage her care” and 2s. 6d. each to three maids, the same payments being repeated quarterly. It was the custom then on entrance to a school for the parent to give a silver spoon to the master or mistress, but Morris on this occasion compounded for 10s. for the spoon and an addi¬ tional 1 os. for entrance fee. There is also an item for 13s. to pro¬ vide Betty with fruit at 6d. a week for twenty-six weeks. Besides supplying her liberally with clothes and pocket-money Morris, who seems to have been really devoted to Betty, was con¬ stantly sending her “Tokens” of 2s. 6d. or 5s. by various people. These were presumably tokens of affection expressed in cash. He does the same occasionally for other small relatives at school.

3i THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

In December 1709 Morris went to Salisbury and fetched Betty home. With that her schooling ended, though she was only just thirteen. Afterwards she had lessons in violin and singing, but apparently no further general education. It was not considered necessary in those days for women to have much general education and many women of the upper classes wrote very badly if at all and spelt worse, even allowing for the fluidity of spelling at that time. No doubt Betty assisted her step-mother in household duties and learnt to cook, sew and make preserves and cordials, as did most of the women of the time from the highest classes downwards if they had large house¬ holds to manage. Her knowledge of French did not give her sufficient confidence to speak it. She had a great scene with her father ending in a flood of tears, because she refused to speak French with Mrs. Keen, a Hugenot by birth. Far more time and trouble were spent in the education of Morris’ son. At four years old he went to a Dame’s school. Miss Pierce, where he and his maid were taught together for 6s. 6d. a quarter: an early and curious example of co-education. He con¬ tinued at Miss Pierce’s till 1716 on the same terms, when at seven years old he went to a Mr. Gravel who in June 1717 was paid by Morris one guinea “for teaching Willie to read, half a year since Christmas.” The boy had got his first book, a New Testament, in the previous year. We have an interesting note of his dress in 1715. He wore a scarlet worsted coat, green tabby waistcoat, serge breeches, all with silver buttons and buttonholes, silver buckled shoes, and hat laced with silver “Arras.” Those who are familiar with the early illustration of Dr. Isaac Watts and similar works will at once recognise the sort of costume with the skirts, in this case lined with green persian silk, nearly touching the boots. It was completed by a laced frilled shirt and its general effect must have suggested a brilliantly coloured cockatoo. In 1717 he was sent to the Wells Grammar School as a day scholar, his fees being at first two guineas a year with one guinea 32 SCHOOL LIFE OF HIS CHILDREN entrance fee paid to the Headmaster, Creighton. But in 1718 the fees rose to four guineas a year in addition to presents at Christ¬ mas. He seems first to have been taught to write in March 1720, when five shillings was paid to Mr. Booth for teaching him. His school books up to the age of twelve were a Grammar, Cordenius’ Colloquies, Phoedrus’ Fables, Castelio’s Dialogues, Ovid’s Epistles and Erasmus’ Colloquies. He was already having lessons on the violin. In 1722 his father entered him at Sherborne Grammar School, where he paid the usual entrance fees for the Headmaster and music master, besides a silver spoon for the Headmaster. The boarding fees were £20 yearly and there were always gratuities to masters and servants at Christmas and extras for “Penns and Ink,” copy books and shoe cleaning. The Headmaster at Sherborne School at this time was Ben¬ jamin Wilding (1719-173 3). He is described in an MS history by John Toogood, an old pupil, as a sound scholar and good teacher, but a severe disciplinarian. Having a scold for a wife and many children, his mind was frequently ruffled by domestic scenes, and “while passions were in motion he was often excited to use severe treatment where Idleness or Dullness appeared, when Providence and Forbearance might have been more com¬ mendable.” Willie Morris who was always delicate, must have been severely chastised for defects in scholarship, for when his father comes over to Sherborne to discuss the matter with Mr. Wilding, he finds “that he had been often whipped since Christmas, but not above 3 lashes, not 14 at a time as he had been before. I desired him to be moderate in his discipline.” The boy went through a very creditable examination in his father’s presence and finally Wilding pronounced him to be one of the best pupils he had ever had, and said he would whip him no more. The holidays at Sherborne School were fairly liberal at Christ¬ mas and Easter and Whitsuntide, but there was no late Mid¬ summer holiday. School went on from Whitsuntide to the middle of December. Willie came home either on horseback or in his c 33 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN father’s “caleche,” the journey taking some six or seven hours for the twenty-five miles. Some of his school fellows belonged to the best County families, such as the Berkeleys and Farwells. At Sherborne, besides the £20 school fees Morris paid for his son 7s. 6d. a quarter to the writing master who also taught arithmetic and drawing, is. for the barber, 6s. for cleaning his shoes and yd. for mending his clothes. Willie’s dress in 1723 included a suit of fine grey cloth at 17s. a yard, costing altogether over £4. He seems to have had 5s. regular pocket money every quarter and occasional “Tokens” of 5s. sent him by his father. The expense of Morris’ journeys to and from the school amounted to some 25 per cent, of the total cost of his son’s educa¬ tion. Choice of schools at that time was largely limited by the question of transport, except where parents were ready to allow their boys to remain at school all the year round. Another result of the expense of transport and the compara¬ tively low school fees was that all the inhabitants of a neighbour hood who gave their children a good education sent them to the same school, so that the families of the small gentry, the pro¬ fessional classes, and the tradespeople all met in school, whether the Dames school at 6d. a week or the public Grammar school. This was the case even with the largest schools, where many sons of tradesmen, merchants and farmers are found on the lists. In provincial towns, certainly, society was more democratic than now as regards the admixture of classes, and intercourse was made easier by the fact that social distinctions were accepted by all classes as part of the established order of the world. We do not know from the Diary how long Willie remained at Sherborne, but presumably till 1727, as he matriculated at Balliol in March of that year.

34 CHAPTER VI

FINANCE AND PRICES

Though most economic problems were in many ways far less complicated zoo years ago than they are to-day, the machinery of the ordinary business transaction of daily life was very cumbrous. Buying and selling was chiefly a matter of bargaining and often of barter. The provision of cash in any large amount depended, at least in the provinces, on the accommodation which neighbours could afford one another. We have to picture to ourselves a society in which banks did not exist for the country population and had only recently begun to exist in London. The first country bank is said to have been started in Gloucester in 1726. Currency was not plentiful and for half of the period under review was very debased, and all payments had to be made in coin. There were no bank notes in current use, no cheques, and no place except a few goldsmith-bankers in London where money could either be deposited or withdrawn. The Bank of England which started operations in 1695 issued bank notes of £20 and upwards. Morris tells us in 1703 that he had £1000 in the Bank of England “in Bank Notes.” In April 1720 he mentions that a Mr. Baron drew a bill on his bankers in London. Elsewhere bills are drawn on goldsmiths, the fore¬ runners of the bankers. For the great majority of capitalists there was no means of investment except land and houses; the only undertakings open to private investors were certain companies working under Crown charter, notably, The East India Company, The Lustrings Company (incorporated in 1696 to counteract the French trade in silks, lustrings and other such goods), and later the ill-fated South Sea Company. The result of the absence of banks was that people had to 35 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN accommodate one another when they required cash temporarily. In his earlier years Morris constantly borrows sums (varying from £ioto £zoo) simply on note of hand, though sometimes on mortgage, from his neighbours, and in later years lent in the same way, paying and receiving interest, generally at 5 per cent, occasionally at 5 \ per cent. Apart from land which he bought largely, his only investment was £100 stock in the South Sea Company, for which he paid £700. He received interest on this for some time, but presumably lost the whole of the capital when the crash came. So completely did this company dominate prices that on one occasion the value of a life on a farm lease is estimated “according to the South Sea price of land.” He paid for this stock by giving the money to Mr. Peirs, then member for the Wells borough, and drawing a bill on him in London, which was sent to Mr. Malet who bought the stock. This procedure no doubt avoided the risk of sending large sums in cash. A County or Borough member would no doubt need considerable sums for nursing his constituency and found it con¬ venient to act occasionally as a broker. Smaller transactions in London were carried through by means of the carriers; the name of one, Abraham Clairey, the London carrier, figures constantly in Morris’ accounts as being entrusted with commissions ranging from a few shillings to £40 or £50. The fluctuation of the coinage had constantly to be taken into account. Silver was the standard. Until 1717 the guinea was valued at £1 is. 6d., when it was fixed at £1 is. by proclamation. In all transactions money had frequently to be weighed, and Morris carried a small pocket scales made for the purpose, and doubtless weighed his fees before pocketing them. Morris in his accounts gives us very complete and accurate figures for all his purchases and transactions. But it is difficult to compare them with those of our own day owing to the great difference in the value of money, probably then three or four times as great as now. One outstanding fact was that human labour was very cheap. 36 FINANCE AND PRICES

He pays his servants £$ or £4 annually and gives them clothes. One shilling a day was the wage of a labourer or at the most is. 6d. for the more skilled work. Horse hire was also very cheap, a shilling a day being the regular price. Notwithstanding the cheapness of labour, it is interesting to note that Morris estimates the cost of work on his house at Wells as nearly equal to that of material. His final summary in 1702 is: In all For Work £399 *9 7 2 Materials £4°7 14 ITi

£807 14 6f an estimate which shows the meticulous accuracy of his accounts. The payment of carriage to London was very small considering that the journey must then have taken a week at least. Thus only 6d. was paid for small parcels and 4s. 6d. for a double bass fiddle. Morris usually did his own shopping in Bath and Bristol, buying glass, cloth and hardware in the former and books in the latter town. On the other hand luxuries, which we should now consider necessities, were dear. Tea cost 18s. to 25s. a pound and coffee about 1 os. Chocolate was only 4s., but sugar cost from 8|d. to is. Jd. a pound. Wine and spirits were cheap, but the prices of these liquors varied probably according to the success of the smugglers, for much that Morris bought was certainly smuggled and brought into his house at 1 or 2 a.m. Brandy cost him 5s. to 1 os. a gallon, claret about 5s., sherry and port (white and red) cost a little more than this when bought in cask. As he owned a farm near to Wells, Morris probably supplied himself with wheat and milk and often with meat and poultry. Nearly everyone baked their own bread in those days and many brewed their own beer. Morris did this on a large scale having a brew-house in the back premises and buying sufficient malt to brew 7,000 gallons of strong ale yearly. Coal was fairly expensive, though produced within fifteen miles of Wells. It cost about 10s. a ton at the pit’s mouth and the 37 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN haulage brought it up to £i; more than it cost locally at the beginning of the present century. Clothes were an expensive item for a gentleman in those days, the dress of the period being elaborate and the materials costly. The best cloth for Morris’ coats cost 18s. or more a yard. But boots and shoes were cheap, costing 4s. 6d. to 6s. per pair. Life on the whole was much cheaper in Morris’ days, largely because it was much simpler and because people supplied their own wants at home. It has been said that a Squire with £zoo a year was a rich man in the 18th century, and this was approxi¬ mately the income which Morris had when he first started in Wells. The money he saved was invested chiefly in land and by the end of his life he possessed considerable property scattered over many parishes: West Bradley, West Pennard, Filton, Glaston¬ bury, Baltonsbury, Felton, Wedmore and Worle in Somerset, and Ashcombe in Dorset. His income from this property in 1723 was near £400 a year, making with his medical earnings a total of £600 a year. This would be equivalent to at least £2000 a year in these days. One remarkable thing about the forty years of his accounts (1686-1726) is that the prices hardly vary at all from beginning to end; the rate of wages, the rate of interest, and the cost of commodities are almost the same throughout, except for occa¬ sional variations in the last mentioned due to continental wars interfering with the importation of wine and other goods. Economically the life of the country was very little affected either by wars abroad or by revolution at home and there were no inventions made during the period either to quicken transport or to cheapen production so as to affect a rapid transformation of the conditions of life. In fact this period shows very well how little effect external wars or even internal revolutions in govern¬ ment had then on the life of the people as a whole. Local dis¬ turbances may produce local dislocation for a time, as no doubt the Monmouth Rebellion did in 1686; but Dr. Morris had then only just settled in Wells and kept no regular Diary till years afterwards. 58 CHAPTER VII

MUSIC IN WELLS (1700-25)

To Dr. Claver Morris music was not so much a recreation as a passion. It takes the first place amongst his varied activities apart from his profession and occupies a great deal of his spare time. It seems probable that he started the Music Club which existed in Wells and for many years met every Tuesday in the Vicar’s Hall, where they erected a gallery for their instruments, a cheap wooden structure now removed. There is mention of a Music Hall in 1704; but whether this means the Vicars’ Hall is uncertain; in 1704 the “Clubb” met at the Deanery for a time. Morris himself, besides singing, played the harpsichord, the organ, the violin and double bass, the basoon or curtile, hoboy and flute, a sufficiently varied range of instruments. Whatever the standard of execution, the aims of the Music Club were high, all the best music of the day was brought under contribu¬ tion. The list of composers whose works Morris had is a long one: Purcell, Byrd, Croft, Clark, Scarlatti, Albinoni, Handel, Visconti, Vivaldi, Maria Fiore, Petz, Alberti Bonporti, Fiocco, Polaroli, Tibaldi, Geminiani, Bassani, Torelli, Valentini, etc. The works actually performed are not infrequently recorded and are very varied; there is no evidence of course as to whether the execution was equal to the music, but occasional remarks show that Morris could be critical on occasion. Thus he says (Aug. 6, 1719) £

strangers who appeared occasionally from London, coming generally via Bath, which as a very fashionable resort attracted many celebrated musicians. What the members of the “Clubb” were is not stated; the Vicars Choral were no doubt the mainstay as regards the male voices and instruments, but there was a leaven of musical people from the gentry and town’s people. The great day of the year was St. Cecilia’s day, November 22. In 1709 Morris records: “It being the Anniversary of St. Cecelia I was the greatest part of the day at the Close Hall with the lovers of Music, Mr. Harrington, Mr. Nash, Colonel Berkeley, Colonel Prowse, Colonel Horner, Major Fraser, and many others performing Purcell’s Cecilia Song and much other Music. We had of Halfcrown men 62. The women failed to pay by get¬ ting some of them into the place & there were of those who went in fairly but 33.” A month after this meeting Morris went to Frome and spent the day performing Flute Sonatas with Major Prater, Colonel Berkeley, Mr. Jesser and “my servant.” Whether he chose his servants for their musical ability does not appear, but he pays for having his apprentice Jack Watts instructed in the violin and also for musical lessons for another of his men. Whilst the Wells “Clubb” was Morris’ principal musical interest, he was always ready to go where music was to be found, and at the Harringtons of Kelston near Bath he had all that he could desire. His frequent visits to them were veritable musical orgies which went on all day and half the night, perhaps for a couple of days or more, interrupted only by dinner or a run into Bath to a concert or to hear some musician of fame. Amongst them were Signor Grimaldi “the most admired singer ever heard in England” (whom I did not hear, says Morris, regretfully), a pupil of Geminiani the great violinist, and Franciscello and Fiorio, whom Morris carried off to perform at Wells. Morris had a strong mechanical bent and this perhaps led him to attempt an improvement in the harpsichord by substituting metal or horn for a quill. In December 1719 he writes that he had 40 MUSIC IN WELLS made an end of his invention of a spring jack to strike with metal. This, however, apparently gave too metallic a sound and a little later he buys five horns to cut into combs for harpsichord jacks, and he also tries the effect of a short quill with the metal to prevent the metallic trembling. He had his own harpsichord and that of one at least of his friends in Wells fitted with these jacks, but of their ultimate success we know nothing, certainly they did not come into general use. The work was done by Mr. Hill, harpsichord maker of Wells who died a year later. Schwarbrook, a renowned organ builder, was also in Wells at this time and was employed by the Dean and Chapter to look after the cathedral organ. His name is variously spelt by Morris, Swanbrick, Swasbrook, and Swansbrook. He is mentioned as having invented an instrument described as an upright harpsichord mixed with an organ, and again as “a harpsichord with flute pipes as a principal in it.” It seems to have been a forerunner of Baillie Hamilton’s Vocaiion and other similar instruments. It was built in Wells and is mentioned as being nearly finished in 1721, but was only painted in 1723. Pro¬ bably Schwarbrook only looked at it intermittently as he had much work elsewhere, but he was often in Wells, certainly in 1718-19, 1721-23 and 1725. He is mentioned as having repaired the organ in St. Cuthberts Church Wells and added two stops, a trumpet and cornet, he also repaired the organ in the Vicars’ Hall “adding a bassoon and Hoboy stop and sinking the pitch a lesser third to bring it nearer to Concert pitch,” for which and for personally lowering it a note he was paid £25. Morris himself seems to have been an authority on the organ; in 1709 he is asked to go over and give his opinion on the new organ in Shepton Mallet church, which was opened with some ceremony. But he was also asked at various times to adjucate on the merits of viols, flute and harpsichord; so his knowledge of musical instruments must have been comprehensive. The prices paid for the instruments in those days is of some

4i THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

interest. Thus for a basoon or curdle he pays £2 ios. In 1688 “a Hoboy with ivory joints and tipped with same” cost £i 7s. and four reeds 2s. in 1697, and in 1698 a red violin with case £2, in 1715 a violin by Barrett cost £3 5s. In 1711 he bought a bass violin for £5 from Mr. Lewis, but sends back to London a bass viol weighing fifty-four pounds “which I only had to com¬ pare with my own.” The “Clubb” as originally constituted came to an end in 1726 owing to a quarrel between Morris and the Vicars about a door into a house which he rented from them in the Close Hall. It was reconstituted by Morris and some friends, and there were four meetings at the Mitre before Morris’ serious illness ended his work and the Diary. Whether the Club survived his death in the following year is not apparently known, but unless the Vicars Choral came in again it was hardly likely to be successful. It was probably Morris’ vigorous personality which kept it going for so many years. He certainly managed the finances and on many occasions brought in extra musical help and eminent musicians. “Amongst them were bidden the Flahouse mentioned already, a 'blackamoor’ trumpeter named Dregold, two or three Germans, Waite and Dalaron and a 'Saxon’ organist.” Before he came to Wells his accounts show that he lived in Salisbury for a time where there was a St. Cecilia Society whose concerts Morris attended once or twice whilst on a visit from Wells. It may be surmised that Morris started the Club at Wells on the model of that at Salisbury, as St. Cecilia’s Day was their principal day in their year. For years he seldom missed a meeting and it is a remarkable tribute to his enthusiasm that a man, who, in his practice often spent some forty hours a week in the saddle and did much public work besides, should have been able to devote so much time to music. So true is it that only the busy man ever has time to spare. Morris desired that the music he loved should accompany him to the grave. In 1725 he records playing ''Fuger’s Sonatas, which I would should be played at my funeral” and he ends his 42 MUSIC IN WELLS will with these words: “My desire is that there might be no appearance of concernment or Grief amongst even my nearest relations or Friends; but if it be possible, there might be a concert of music of 3 Sonatas at least in the room where my body is placed before it be carried out of my house to be interred.”

43 CHAPTER VII

ENCLOSURE OF COMMONS.

One of the most interesting features of the Diary is the account which it gives of the enclosures of Baltonsbury Northwood and of Glastonbury Common Moor, in both of which Morris seems to have been the prime mover. These Acts of Enclosure were among the first passed in the 18th century. Baltonsbury was in fact the fourth. The whole number of enclosures previous to 1750 was very small and the great bulk of them did not take place till after 1760. An entry in Morris’ accounts dated October 1, 1708, shows that he was already planning and taking legal advice about the Baltonsbury enclosure, and even ten years earlier than this he had given £1 towards the same object. It is probable that his interest in the common lands came to him from acquiring an estate in West Bradley through his second marriage in 1696. Anyhow his name appears with that of Mr. H. Peirs, M.P. for Wells, as promoting the Baltonsbury Bill, and together with others in the case of Glastonbury. His accounts show that in Baltonsbury for an expenditure of roughly -£35 which included the making of hedges and ditches, and levelling of 9,600 anthills, he became absolute owner of over forty-one acres, to which he added some more land later by purchase. In the case of Glastonbury he also acquired two or three other holdings making his ultimate share a substantial one. The account that Morris gives of these two enclosures illus¬ trates very clearly all the difficulties which arose in most of these cases, beginning with the opposition of those who did not wish for an Act and tried to oppose it in Parliament. Morris evidently succeeded, with the help of Mr. Peirs, in getting it passed. Then there are the struggles before the commissioners and all the usual 44 ENCLOSURE OF COMMONS characters appear. There is the man who declares that he never heard that an Act was to be promoted, although the legal notices were given out in the Church of St. John’s, Glastonbury. There is the suspicious man who is convinced that he has been de¬ frauded and that his lots are smaller and of poorer land than his neighbours. There is the dissenter who insists that the right of way to his ground should be through the Curate’s portion, though another road is offered him. Finally there is trouble with the Bishops’ representatives about the land assigned to the curate. The ecclesiastics show themselves to be as unreasonable and obstructive as anyone else. Even after enclosure (May 2, 1722) some commoners were inclined to defy the authority of the commissioners, they drove their cattle on to the common, notwithstanding the commissioners’ order that it should be ‘hayned,’ i.e. kept up for hay. When the division of the common land had been finally carried out and the new proprietors had come into possession, it is obvious that Morris’ conscience was uneasy as to whether the poorer commoners had been adequately compensated for their loss of rights of grazing. Before enclosure, each commoner could keep a cow or a pig and some poultry, and their loss was quite inadequately compensated by a lump sum of £5 or £10, which was very soon spent, probably in the public house. Morris, in order to allay his qualms sets aside a sum of £20 which he dis¬ tributes in public (Dec. 22, 1722) at the Rose and Crown Inn to such of the poor of Glastonbury as he thought unfairly treated. The meetings of the Commissioners appointed under the Act are described in the Diary at some length and with considerable humour. They were held at the George Inn, Glastonbury; the Bulls Head, Wells, and at Cannards Grave for the allotment of the South Moor. The impression that these accounts leave is that whatever may be stated as to the rights and wrongs of enclosures and of these enclosures in particular, the Commissioners certainly did their best to satisfy all the individual claimants and spared no trouble to reach a just settlement.

45 PART I

Appendix A

INSCRIPTION ON TABLET IN THE EAST CLOISTER OF WELLS CATHEDRAL

HIC JACET

Claverus Morris M.D. in Agro Dorset Ex ingenua familia oriundus: Quem si noveris virum, noveris viator facilem jucun- dum perurbanum: In rebus suscipiendis cautum et sagacem: In agendis pariter animosum: Et propositi subactis affectibus Tenacissimum: orthodoxi Patris filius orthodoxus: A patre Gulielmo A. M. Rectore de Mans on in Bello civili propter Regem multa pas so Didicit Regem et Ecclesiam unice amare: Nullius non artis Liberalis facile prudens ad inferioris etiam notae Disciplinas eleganter se demisit: ingenium ejus versatile, non desultorium, musicis quippe cum paucis sciens, chymicorum etiam arcana scrupulosissime perquirebat cum Anatomicae et Herboricae rei satis insudasset: Ita instructus Philosophiam Quam certissima matheseos et Experimentorum ope effecte tutus est Vitae negotiis et quotidiano usui feliciter accomodavit: Precipue vero in divina medicinali arte exercitatus cum intima Naturae adyta acumine sibi proprio penetrasset Remedia contra morbos graviores suam non minus in Laudem quam aliorum salutem a se ipso excogitata affabre elaboravit: His animi dotibus lumen et ornamentum addidit pietas: Instar Phoebi, et eluxit, cum florens successibus aegrotos reficeret, Et nube latuit cum pauperibus Ea munera donaret ejus dextra quorum sinistra numquam fuit conscia: Qui Negotiis Religioni Honori inservitus, In terra nobis vixit, in Caelo vivit sibi. 67 Annos natus denatus Martii 19th, 1726.

46 APPENDIX

TRANSLATION OF CLAVER MORRIS’ EPITAPH

HERE LIES

Claver Morris Doctor of Medicine (born) in the County of Dorset sprung from a family of good repute: If you knew him, passer-by, you knew one who was affable agreeable and highly courteous: In his undertakings as cautious and wise as he was vigorous in his actions. And being master of his passions most persistent in his purpose: The orthodox son of an orthodox father: From that father William Master of Arts Rector of Manson who had suffered greatly in the King’s cause in the Civil War he learnt to love above all else his King and Church: Easily mastering every Liberal art he yet condescended gracefully to exercises of a less grave kind: His genius was versatile but not desultory: Thus in music he understood it as few others did: moreover he investigated with the utmost care the secrets of chemistry after he had la¬ boured much at anatomy and the study of herbs: Thus equipped he adapted with happy results to his work in life and daily occu¬ pations a Philosophy which he effectively strengthened by the sure aid of experiment and mathematics: But above all being skilled in the divine art of medicine when he had penetrated the deepest mysteries of Nature with an insight peculiar to himself he skilfully developed remedies that he had himself invented for grievous diseases thus improving his own reputation as well as the health of others: These mental gifts were enlightened and adorned by his piety: Like the Sun-god he shone brightly when in the height of his success he restored his patients to health and he hid his light behind a cloud when his right hand gave to the poor gifts of which his left hand knew nothing. He who thus devoted to Work, Religion and Honour once lived on earth for us now for himself lives in Heaven: Aged 67 years he died March 19th, 1726.

47 Appendix B

Extract from Claver Morris’ Will. “As to my funeral I desire it might be with as little show and trouble as possible can be And with the Office appointed by the Church of England of which [I] am an Affectionate Member And the day of ones Death being better than of ones Birth This carrying us out into a Tempestuous Ocean But that bringing us (if we have done well) from a dangerous Turbulent Voyage into a Haven of Happiness My desire is that there might be no Appear¬ ance of Grief or Concernment amongst even my nearest Rela¬ tions or Friends But if it might be possible there might be a Consort of Musick of three Sonatas at least in the Room where my Body is placed before it be carryed [out] of my House to be Interred.”

48 PART II

PREFATORY NOTES

(i) On the Hieroglyphics in Morris’s Diary. A typical entry in Morris’s Diary when translated reads as follows: F (Friday) 21 Nov. A (being at home) © (I went to church) C.N.Cr.N. (I went to look at the news letters at the Coffee House and Crown Inn) P.P. (prescribed for two patients) Mrs. Evans D. (was at Dinner) [-> (after Dinner) W.L. (worked in Laboratory) P (prescribed) S (usually means that he studied, but sometimes, as here, refers to supper). He also uses various alchemistic symbols for drugs, which are explained in the text. The days of the week are always indicated at the side by their astronomical signs. N.B.-—These hieroglyphics are mostly translated in the printed text, but can be seen in the facsimile photographs (frontispiece and facing page 51).

(ii) Except for translating the hieroglyphics and omitting the days of the week and most of the weather records, no attempt has been made to alter the extracts or their spelling. When the sense requires it, a few explanatory letters or words are added in square brackets. The curved brackets are those in Morris’ own hand¬ writing. Editor.

d

Q ^*3. Q . *5rku£(ib&r *rti£ M^^tr&jtj 6^ zll MzJk^U J&tWttkj cafr^Z btkv truj £k&kn£zy‘ faf-thi 3 /if 6J fi&tizt&f £rn_ try CloWno ,} r*3u./d hr jgm~ ko^ 6f#w£<*r£ (Lay tv /fa &**£ dchrru'. Jbi£jjutj utter ha^ [UjiAh:%*£

&> ft*Mif &* °?rihJaXLY). My,Mstxk(Lnt~*7. ffivQifidtfft_7 ?. _x\ft

t=i P s: Ojvx tezz :::: 7l ^4-- Q. 9 hrritta|*Ve to Jir(ffam/u jiutnfreifj 3madt Oh my %fMvy ifat^A-wtsd fair him fo oupAvt It m. 3u Jko .-

"hunt£h9*, !&• 3t^fA}fraj —>• hr1? Q< .,■ * ' i p : *L '

0 -S'.Ci. 9.9. Aviu.auf(/M?jfi*tu ‘b.t-.Q, Jk*fyt*£b«?^<6k.

dinette. Al^Xvum tfj %uik^JUy$0Jrult?/i6r/as$iH:tfc. 9. fp> $ YtsJ- tv my CoJJUsj (ft ipji 'bzcfuj {faultxn %$ Q. V

$ ;C ^0-»-•*,am.. ' ^ ._ ~7''.$;.?;.5 *:PPJ,:!'utli?.Jki±-^."r&tse/u Extracts from Dr. Claver Morris’ Diary (March 25 th, 1709 to March 21st, 1710) I7°9 Mar. 25 This Winter just past was the most Cold & Snowey that ever was remembered by any one. The greatest snow (when I went to Pill) was Jan. 24. Apr. 27 Prescribed for 5. Saw out of my Garret Window Cox hangd at Stookley Hill with my little Telliscope. Bp. Ken at the Palace. May 2 On ye Commission for ye Tax. Took the Oathes. Dined at ye Star with Mr. Hughes, Westley, both the Elringtons. 17 I weigh’d my self at Charles Taylor’s and I weighed 214 lb | which was more by 16 lb. J than I weigh’d [blank] years agoe. At the Musick-Meeting where no Stranger was. Supp’d & Danc’d at Mr. Keen’s, till half an hour after one, with Mrs. Keen. 18 I visited Mr. Young’s Child, at Somerton, where there was still a very great Flood occasion’d by a Storm of Rain with Thunder & Lightning very dreadfull, that fell Monday last there, & all along by Masson, Shir- born & the Places adjacent with that fierceness for about 6 hours time that the like had never been seen by any Man; It so overfilling the Rivers that Kingsmoor was even this day (when I rode in sight of it) all over cover’d very deep with Water; & many Houses were beat down, 8 at Masson. Such a weight of Water broke out of the River & ran into Shirborn Church that it beat down many seats, & broke up the Pavement of the Church all over & was reckon’d to have done in that Town 5000-^ dammage. There were Hailstones that fell in Immensurable Quantities, said to be 6 Inches in the Circumference. Mr. Shirley measured one of 3 Inches & half. The Thunder was incessant. I lodg’d at Charleton at my Brother Farwel’s. There fell on Mon¬ day no Rain at Wells, and there was very little Thunder heard.

5i THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

May 23 At the Coffee House was the first News of a Peace con¬ cluded betwixt the Confederates and ye King of France.1 30 I writ to Mrs. Deer, & Bettey. Mr. Hill accompanied my Brother Farewell at Dinner. After Dinner I was with the other Commissioners at ye Mitre, on Appeals for ye Land-Tax. In the Evening on the account of my Brother Farewel’s being made a Prebendary, I enter¬ tained at a Supper, Chancellour Hughes, Dr. Creighton, Mr Bridges, Mr. Lang, Mr Pope, Mr Mills, Mrs Aris, Mr Hill, Mr Franklin, Mr Webb, Mr Broadway, Mr Broadrib, Mr Nichols, Mr Wiltshire; the Minister of Winsham, Colonel Prowse, Mr Wm Long & Mr Itchenor. Dr. Healy Mr. Keen. All ye Company went not away till 1. June 2 Holy Thursday. I Din’d with Captain Mattocks; In company with Mr Mattocks of Wells & Mrs. Smith of E. Harptrey: & was very handsomly entertain’d with a Bowl of Punch after Dinner. 4 I with my Wife went to Dr Creyghtons to wish him a good journey to his Parsonage & got leave of him to make a Passage through his Garden into Close-Hall. 10 After Dinner I waited on Dr Chesney & his Wife. I went from them to ye Checker, took the Oaths, & Acted in the Town Appeals as a Commissioner. Bought a Prunella-Wastcoat. 11 Had a present of Green-pease from Mr Smith of Cross; Mr Wiltshire Din’d. I cleans’d my Wife’s Gold Watch. I pay’d the Workmen about Stopping the Fish-pond. I visited Mrs Prowse at ye Palace: Obtained My Lord Bishop Hooper’s Connivance at my making a Way into Close-Hall. 14 I went with Mr Lucas & Mr F: Day to the Unicorn & set down in Paper Names of impartial Men within 8 Miles of Wells proper for Mr Aishes Jury in his Trial with Mr. Pitt. I spent i4d. I din’d (on Invitation) at Mrs Webb’s. At the Consort that were not Clubbers,

1 Owing to the policy of the Whig Government, peace was not concluded until 1713 (see Trevelyan's History of England, p. 498). 5* EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

Dr Chesney, his Son, Mr John Salmon, & his Kinsman, besides many Ladies. June 18 I received a Box from London with my Cloaths weigh¬ ing just (or scarcely) 23 lb. The Carrier refus’d 23d for it: so I Intended to stay till he thought fitt to accept it. 20 I writ to my Daughter Bety at Sir Denys Buckleys at Burgate by Fortonbridge. I writ to Mr Wm Bragg, intending to sent it by Post to him at Wadham College. After Dinner I was with Colonel Prowse, Dr Chesney, Mr Sharp of Brewton, & others at Mr Hill of Banwels Treat at the Mitre, on account of being Install’d into ye Prebend of Cumpton Bishops. 21 Afterwards went to our Musick in Close Hall, where was Mr Hunt. News was brought of poor Molley Mills’s being Scalded to death in Cornwall, in a Kettle of Water. July 6 I put on a Knocker on Mr. Mills’s Door. I Din’d with * Mrs Strode at Downside; Mrs Langton, Mr Brown Sc his Wife & Mr Henry Strode being there too. We play’d 6 Hand Cribbage. Mr Brown (when I was setting them right in what I had predicted about Dr Kidder’s Death) asked me whether I could think (were I injurd) that God would take notice & even work a miracle to punish him, because he injurd me. I told him that I hop’d & did believe I was as much under the Protection of God as himself: And that it was as great an offence to my Creator for any one to Murther me as it was another, etc. 9 Mr White of Shapwick & Mrs Cook (my Tenant’s Wife at Ebdon) who brought me a Roasting Pig for a Present, din’d with me. I saw Cap. Mattocks & his Brother Tom at ye Globe-door; & they with Mr Will Evans & I went to the George & drank Claret & I bargain’d with Mr Gorton to have his Coach to Somerton & six Horses for 2is-6d. 21 Mr Lucas & I went with Mr Gorton’s Coach to Mar- tock to fetch my Wife, my Sister Leigh, my Neice Leigh (& their Maids) who were brought thither in my Father Bragg’s Coach, to Wells. I intended for the Coach-man for carrying & Bringin my Wife 20s: But he refusing to come any further than Martock; I would 53 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

give him nothing. I gave Abraham—}s-od. I expended at Martock—3s; At Somerton—ns. I gave Gorton’s Coach-man is. 22 The Bishop sent me a large. Fat Hanch of Venison (twas Wills Flesh);1 I gave his Cook 5 s who brought it up. 23 I writ to my Daughter at Salisbury. About 5 aclock. My Neece Leigh with Mr Jinney Gendrault, Mrs Leigh’s Maid, my Wife’s Maid & my Man J:C: & Mr Prickman went & saw Wookey Hole; It cost me—2s-6d for Beer & Candles. But we had no Guide. 24 Mrs Leigh, my Neece Leigh, Mr Mattocks, Mr Lucas, Mr Prickman & Mr Wiltshire & his Wife Din’d with me on an Hanch of Venison sent me from ye Bishop (of the Buck, fed in the Palace Court) & put in a Pastie. 26 I had my Sister Leigh & my Neece to see the Water- walk & Meadows & afterward the Library at the Cathedral. Afterward we went to the Musick-Meeting. 27 My Sister & Neece Leigh with my Wife & all the Webbs (except Mr Cath) were at a Ball at Mr Keens. I danc’d with Mrs Berkeley-Gendroult; we left off about 1. My Wife gave ye Cook-maids is. & I gave the 2 Men 2s & the Boy 6d. 28 Went out with my Neece Leigh, afterwards to Dulcote, to shew her Papermaking. I prescribed for Mr Mayowe of Truro & sent the Form by the Post in Mr Mill’s letter to him. 30 My Sister Leigh & her Daughter & her Maid went in Gorton’s Coach to Bath; I call’d ’em up at half an hour before 4 & they took Coach at 6. I sent John with them. My Harvest-men made a Rick in Alderley’s Close. Mr Mills & I went into, to Bath our selves, Nabb’s Hole. I supp’d with him. I gave my Neece Leigh the New History of the Kings of England (suppos’d to be written by Dr Welwood) in 2 volumes in 8vo & Josephus epitomised. 31 I read some of Mr Martin’s Assise Sermon at Dor¬ chester. Then I waited on the Bishop to thank him for

Wills Flesh’ i.e., the deer kept in the Bishops Park. 54 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

the Venison he sent me about 10 days since. I read the causes of ye Decay of Christian Piety, to my Family. Aug. i I put stuff (Mewshot & white Sugar Candy) into the Mare’s right Eye to take off a Film. 2 I lay a bed, out of order in a Cold till near 11. 3 So sick of a Fever with a violent Pain in my Head, Stomach & Limbs that I could not get out of bed till past 2 in afternoon. About 4 I took, in small Car- [MS indecipherable] which worked upward 7 times & downward near as often beginning to do so about the 3d vomit. Twas all over in 2 hours or less. And took a dose twice of an Alterative Electuary and went to bed. 4 It being our Mutual Entertainment at Colonel Berk¬ ley’s, though I continued very sick, I went thither; 1 eat nothing but a little Tench & a Glass of Jelley of Harts-horn, sip’d once or twice of a Glass of October & drank in the middle of ye Afternoon half a glass of Punch. All the rest of the day sometime (to near the quantity of a pint in all) I drank fresh small drink: But sitting in Complasance to Colonel Florner, Mr Cum¬ min of Trinity College, his friend Mr Pope, Mr White- hand, Mr White, Mr Mills, Mr Aris, & Mr Bayley in Garden Summer-House, though windows were shut, I came away about 6 worse than I came.

5 I sweat in the Sweating Chair & continued it for 3 hours after. 6 I was let blood to 16 ounces by Mr Lucas in the right arm. 10 All doubted my recovery. 11 My Disease appeard to be Spotted Fever. D I left off Watchers. 18 I began to eat Flesh. 20 1 writ a Letter to my Daughter Bettey the first I was able to write.

23 I went to Church, & first abroad after my Sickness. I had Jackson Anthem for my Recovery sung by Mr Wiltshire. Sept. 6 Receiv’d 10 Gallons of White Lisbone Wine from Mr Mitchel. At the Music-Meeting there happen’d to be Captain James Coward; And his asking how a Spirit 55 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

could throw a Bed-Staff gave me an occasion to prove beyond his denying, & I hope to his satisfaction, that the World was not eternal and that there were future rewards & Punishments after Death. Sept. 9 I din’d & my Daughter at Mr Brockwell’s; thence I went to a Consort at Mr. Harris’s; afterwards to Church, and then back with my Daughter to the Consort. We and Mr Nicols supp’d at Mr Harris’s. Then I called on Mrs. Morris & she gave me Kersey’s Algibra: with a Mourning-ring & a pair of Gloves for her Husband. 17 I visited Mrs Goold at Sharpham, who was Ill of a Tertian Ague. Mrs Erney, the Shaftesbury Midwife was there. 20 At our Musick-Meeting were Sir John Goodrich & his Lady, etc. Mr Dean of Bath assisted us. All the Com¬ pany which happened to be there (which was large) concluded that our Musick was the best they ever heard in Close-Hall. Mr Dean Lodg’d at mine House. 22 On an Invitation to give my Judgment on the Organ in Shepton-Church, I went thither; I din’d at the George there with Colonel Berkeley, Colonel Horner etc.. And Afterwards we all went to Mr Whitehands where we made a very good Consort of Musick. Mr Dean, Mr Hill, Mr Nicols, Mr Broadrib, Mr Mills, Mr Dolton & my self were the Performers on Instruments & Mr Wiltshire, Mr North, Mr Broadrib & Mr Dean were the Performers with Voices. Twas the day of opening the Organ, & there was a great deal of Company to hear us. Oct. 7 John Curtis Bottles out a Hogshead of Warminster October Beer. I play’d at Mangala with Mr Mills at his House. 17 2 Yoke of mine Oxen & a Horse were pressed & went to Bristowe with the Souldier’s Baggage. Mr Hodges came to me. In the evening Mr Wiltshire brought Mr George to beg my Pardon. Mr Mills came & play’d Mangala. About 6 a clock my wife began to fall in Labour. 20 At 20 or 22 Minutes after 6 in the morning exactly, my Wife was very happily deliver’d of a Son. I had many Congratulations on that occasion; And in the Evening 5<$ EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

Mr Mills, Mr Henry Gapper, Sc Mr Purchase were with me Sc we were merry but temperately so. Sc play’d Drink if you please. Oct. 26 I gave to ye Scotch persecuted Clergy a Guinea.1 27 My Son was at Evening Service Baptiz’d by the Name William in the Cathedral at Wells. Colonel Berkeley, Sc Colonel Prowse, for Major Brag, with Bishop Hooper’s Lady Sc my Sister Farewel for my Sister Leigh were Suretys. I had a great Company both of Men Sc Women at mine House (especially Men) Sc some of them staid with me till 4 a clock next morning Sc seem’d very well pleas’d with their entertainment. Colonel Berkeley (my house being full) lodg’d with me in my Bed. Nov. 2 I sent a Letter with a Prescription to Serjeant Webb. My Brother Sc Sister Farwel went home. I deputed Thomas Burges to be my Game-keeper at W. Bradley. 5 I visited Mr. Lang Sc Mrs. Hill. My Wife went out of ye Parlour Chamber Sc walked a little while in the Hall-Chamber, being the 17th day after her Delivery. I read ye News at ye Mitre where was Mr. Pope Sc we talk’d about the Succession. 8 We Brewd an Hogshead of Warminster 12 Bushel Beer, with 6 lb of Hopps. 10 Still at South Cadbury. I gave my Man leave to go see his Parents at Churton. I won 3 s of my Brother Farwel at Tables. In the Evening we play’d for 2 hours Drink if you please. I had i4d for 1 Glass. Afterwards Mrs Cherry sung Sc we all danc’d 8 or 10 dances. Then play’d some Forfeiting Plays: we had an excellent Bowl of Punch above a Galon Sc we went to Bed about 3. 14 I went to Axbridge with our Chancellour & Mr Westley Sc was sworn one of the Commissioners of the Sewers for Somersetshire and was on the Bench there. 17 My Wife was Churched by Mr Mills. She was carried in a Sedan & was clad in a Vail. No woman went with her but Mrs Rogers, the Midwife. Mr Mills Din’d with us. My Son Will went to Mrs Noot to Nurse.

1 The Episcopal clergy who were being driven out by the Presby¬ terians.

57 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Nov.22 It being the Anniversary of St. Cecilia, I was the greatest part of the day at Close-Hall with the Lovers of Musick, Mr Harrington, Mr Naish, Colonel Bessly, Col: Prowse, Col: Horner, Major Prater & many other Lovers of Musick performing Purcel’s Cecilia Song & much other musick. We had of Half Crown Men 62. The Women faild to pay by getting some of them into the place; so that there were of them when fairly in, but 33* 26 I was sent for by Mr Wm Berkeley to visit his sick Lady & went towards My Lady Semer’s at Maiden-Bradley about 4 a clock & came to my Journey’s end about 9. 27 I was at my Lady Semers, with her Daughter Berkley. 28 I was still at the same place. And we all sent to Dr Bettinson to consult with me about relieving Mrs Berkley from her Fever. 29 Twas our Fair-day. Farmer Cook pay’d me till Michael- mass. John Pew pay’d me some Money. J. Parsons sold a Yoke of mine Oxen. I visited Mrs. Poor; & my Son. I was at Mr Keen’s in the Evening to hear a Strolling Woman Sing. Dec. 5 My Son Will was very Ill of the Gripes. I went to him & order’d him a Clyster & some Medicins for the Wind Sc he was much the better. 12 John Parsons broke at my bidding, the second time, the Locks Bartlet had put on the Gates of Wormister- Field to stop up the way there which had been a High road immemorially. He brake them the first time on Wednesday last. 13 I went to Salisbury to fetch home my Daughter from Mrs Deer’s Boarding-school. 15 I sent away, about 9 a clock, John Parsons with Bettey’s Trunck & all the rest of Her Goods; About an hour and half after We (who set out about so much after him) the Down-way came to Mr Wancey’s The Ship at Meer, Parsons came thither too. 16 Parsons went above an hour Sc half before us, out of Meer: And we got home by three, though the ways were very slippery. We brought 2 Lime trees with us Sc had them set in the Ovals in my Court this Evening. 18 Coming from Pill, being Stopp’d by Bartlets locking up 58 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

the Way, I caused my Man John Curtis, to Break the Lock with a Sledge he borrow’d of Huish of Wormister. Bartlet’s Son look’d on Sc was abusive in his language. Dec. 23 We stay’d all day at Major Prater of Froom, & Colonel Berkeley, the Major, Mr Jesser, my Servant Sc I play’d Flute Sonatas almost all the day; Only about 3 a clock, I was sent to, to visit Mrs Merryweather: About 11 Mr Glin of Meer & I fell into a Debate, he being a Papist, about our Separation from the Church of Rome: In which it was very visible to the whole Company that I had met with a weak adversary. We did not shut up the Dispute till half an hour after 2 a clock in the morn¬ ing Sc then we all went to Bed. 24 I gave my Christmass Alms, according my custome of giving every one 6d. 25 I receiv’d the Holy Sacrement at ye Lower Church, on the account of my being a Commissioner in the Suers. I had most, Sc I invited, all the Club that meet at Close Hall; Sc we had Musick all the Afternoon except when wee all went to the Evening Service of the Church. 29 My Brother Farewel & I went to Colonel Berkeley’s: One of his Drummers & his Boy came in & Drumm’d Sc I gave him is. About half an hour after 7, we parted; Sc betwixt Worminster Sc Dulcot, John Curtis told me that Anne Carpender, our Cookmaid, has accused him to me of being too lavish of the Strong Beer, Sc therefore he would if I pleas’d part from my Service at Candlemass. I told him he should do as he thought best: I would not perswade him from his Inclination: But that I never before either mediatly or immediately heard any such Accusation of him from her. I took then an occasion to tell him some of his Faults which I had not wholy enumerated till my com- ming quite home stopp’d me. 31 I Purchas’d from William Downe his little Tenement at Dulcot for 42^-3 s-od. I gave him a Guinea of it in hand. Tis the Lord Brook’s Land; Sc he had 3 Lives on it, his own, his wife’s & her Sister’s. Tis 6 Acres of it. Sc now Let for 3-£-i5S-od a year, being impoverished.1

1 Morris had offered £40 and a Frieze coat.

59 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

1710 Jan. 2 My Dear Daughter Bettey refus’d to speak French with Mrs Keen; & I taking it unkindly from her, she fell into Tears, & continued grieving in that way even after she came home, so long that I was doubtful of her hurting her Constitution: & upon her being sorry for Refusing what was desir’d from her & promising it should be otherwise another time, I forgave her & she was extremely pleas’d with the reconciliation. 7 Tom Parfit began to fit a Bord & Supporters to the Hoop I contriv’d for my Peruke-Stand, to keep the Hair-powder from fouling the Chamber. 11 In Morning betwixt 9 & 10 before the Court (it being the second day of the General Quarter Sessions) went to Church to hear the Sessions-Sermon (preached by Dr Creyghton). Mr Chancellour Hughes, Mr Westley, & my self who were Witnesses by our Certificates given in (on Oath) to the Court of each other’s Receiv¬ ing the Sacrement on Christmass-day last at St. Cuth- bert’s Church; Took the Oaths of Supremicy, Alle¬ giance, Abjuration & the Test to qualifie us to Act as Commissioners of the Sewers. I Dined with the Jus¬ tices at ye Christopher (which Charles Taylor then kept) & Chancellour Philips, the Chair-Man of the Sessions, pay’d 2s for mine ordinary. 15 I writ a Letter of Thanks to Ed: Cook Esqr of Higham, for the Present of a Silver Salver, Porringer & Spoon, which he made to my little Son. 20 We were over perswaded to stay at S: Cadbury: Mrs Newman coming thither on Foot to visit my Wife. And we sate up all that night but avoided Drinking. 21 We set out from my Brother’s at half an hour past 9; and came home half an hour past one. And all the roads were frozen & very slippery. We came home very safe. My Wife behind my Man John & Bettey behind me: Colonel Berkeley on our vehement denial to go into his House had out a Bottle of Wine. Feb. 1 My Daughter had a Ball; At which were Mrs Katherine Mrs Anne Mrs Mary & Mrs Hannah Webb; Miss Hooper, Mrs Wiggon, Miss Hughes Mrs Fanney Pain, Mrs Canning ton & her Daughter, Miss Mattocks. 60 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

And Mr Rabatier & Mr Gapper were Spectators. They all went off betwixt 12 & i a clock. Feb. 9 Visited Mr Tommy Prowse at the Palace Sc he miss’d his Ague. After Dinner Mrs Webb & her Daughter Catherine came in; Sc Mr Rabbatier who, with me who was desir’d to do so, resolv’d to sit up at Dr Cheney’s House, & to speak to the Apparition if any was seen, that had with Noises frightened Mrs Irishes Family very much that dwelt there. 9 We sate up, but heard nor saw nothing of ye kind. 12 I read Dr Sacheverel’s excellent Answer to his Impeach¬ ment. 16 I went to visit the Bishop before his going to London. When I discours’d him about his Refusal of his Consent to a Door into Mr Lang’s Garden in Close-Hall; He was very passionate and pretended a Consciensciousness in denying what 4 Bishops before him had not scrupled to grant. I endeavoured to perswade him to be directed by the Statutes of that Place: But he very angrily declin’d it by saying he was the best Judge of them, Sc so over-rul’d their plaine Letter & Meaning which does not forbid any such thing. He told me he thought I would take it amiss. I answered him I could not but think it was unkind from him. He said I knew not when I was kindly us’d Sc he would say no more of it. I returned, I was very sensible of a kindness when I receiv’d one: Sc so being come to the door of the Gallery, I wish’d him a good Journey. 20 I riveted on the Brass Ornaments of my Snaffle Bridle. I visited Mr Boudon’s Daughter of Doulting, Sc gave her a vomit. 23 Mr Mills told me of Sam: Hills breaking into his School Sunday last Sc stealing Books. The Arch¬ deacon, his Father, sending a rude Message to him, Mr Mills had his Witnesses sworn before ye Chan- cellour. Mar. 12 I visited Mrs Plaister’s Son Tom, when Mr Lucas Cut¬ off the Tendon of the Musculus Tibialis posticus of his Left Leg (to come at the foul Bones) with the Nerve Sc Vessels there, which by getting in the Probe Sc Director, as well as dividing them, put him to excessive pain. 61 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

15 A State Fast. 19 I went to see my Son & prescrib’d for him who was very Ill, & troubled in his Fever with such Catchings of the Nerves that I was very much afraid for him. I visited Mrs Marian in Close-Hall who was possess’d with such Melancholy Madness that she endeavourd to destroy her self. 21 I visited my Son. I read the Ill-news of Dr Sacheveril’s being found guilty by the Majority of 12 Lords, etc. I went to Puridge & order’d, that 0^33 Windows there, 29 should be suffer’d to remain.

[Here there is an interval of more than ten years in the M.S. diary.] EDITOR.

62 Extracts from Dr. Claver Morris’ Diary (1718-1726) iyi8 July 2 Mr. George Long and I rode from Mrs Long’s (at Downside) to Masbury Castle to see a Horse-race: I won 1 os. 9 Being the day appointed for the Choice of a Coroner I went with many of Wells to Ilchester to vote for Mr Evans, who was elected. 16 Mr Pitt’s Wife not being to be persuaded to bear her Husband’s absence, she being near her time of falling in labour, Mr Pitt did not go with me. So about 11 I came away from Cricket, and when I was gotten about 2 miles towards South Petherton Mr Ricks of Yeovil overtook me with a letter from Mr Strong of that Place, most earnestly to desire me to come to his Son upon the point of Dying in the Small-Pox; I therefore went thither. At 5 I came out of Yeovil, and got home by 10. 20 1 talk’d to Dr. Archer about the Dean’s dealing with Mr Perry whom I commended. And I regretted that the Solem Worship of God should be abased and ungracefully perform’d because the Dean thought him¬ self not humble enough Bow’d to and reverenc’d. He answer’d ’Tis no great matter whether he is worship’d or not, if it must be done by such a fellow as Perry who do’s not pay Respect to his Superiors. Mr Lucas was with us, and only he at the Table in my upper Hall, and he observ’d this judicious and pious return as well as myself.

24 I packed up some Anima Martis, with directions for its use, some of my snuff, 4 streight and 1 Crooked Pipe, to Suck a Woman’s Breast with.1 Aug. 18 I had a Ten Gallon Ferkin of Claret, and another of White Lisbon Wine brought home from the Bell,

1 Anima Martis: some preparation of Iron. 63 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

whither Mr. Clark had sent them at 5s. a Gallon from Crewkern. Aug. 26 Bought Cloth for Shirts of Mr Salmon, and I argued with him, and Demonstrated the insufficiency and fallaciousness of Dr Newton’s Notion and Hypothesis of Colours. Sept. 3 I bought a sort of Surplice kind of Frock of Mrs. Salmon. 4 I received 40 gallons of French Claret which I sent for to Sadborrow. It was brought in 2 Ten-Gallon Rund- lers, in my Nephew Bragg’s Coach which came to carry my Wife to Sadborrow. 26 We continued at Bath. I was called in to Mr Harington at Kelston. I got Mr. Du Burg, Mr Shojan, Mr Walter, and Mr David Baswiwaldt, to go with me. We Dined there, and had a Consort of Musick. We returned to Bath in the Evening; and I entertained them with 3 Fowles and Wine in the great new Dining-Room at the 3 Tuns, where I had a Performance of Musick by these extraordinary Hands. 30 We all went to our Music-meeting in the afternoon, and we performed Concertos very exactly, and had the 6th Mottet of Scarlati which was very fine. Oct. 1 Mr Walter and Mr Baswilwaldt play’d Schenk’s Sona¬ tas for 2 Viols, which were very excellent; we sat up ’till past 2. 8 Was called in to Mrs Giles, at Froom, and had a very dismaying Journey with excessive Wind and Rain all the way. Prescribed. Dined at her Mother’s. At 4 a clock I took Horse for Mr Harrington’s; ’Twas Night before I came to Bath, but I continued on to Kelston, and came thither about 8 a clock, to the Consort to which I was invited. . . . They performed Mr Handle’s Anthems, and Symphonies, chiefly. 11 Mr Hill, Mr Nikells, and I came away from Kelston about 9. My Young Sorrel Horse, which I rode, after almost an hours trying would not be brought into the Ferry-Boat; so I led him into the River then Slip’d the cord out from the Cheek of his Bridle, and made him Swim over to the Horses that were plac’d in his View on the other Side. We came home by 2 a clock. 64 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

Oct. 2 8 I was at our Music-Meeting, and there were a great many Young Gentlewomen, strangers, there which came this day and were Confirm’d by the Bishop. Nov. 8 I Dined with the Vicars at Close-Hall, it being Mr Perry’s Oister-Feast though he was not there. 9 In the Afternoon to church. Mr Creyghton Preached; where he Observed that Nebuchadnezzar was called by God, his servant; But as the Devil was, to execute his judgments on the Wicked Jews; And that his Power was lost in Belshazzer, his Grandson, to the Persians. I read to my Family The Whole Duty of Man. ii At the Crown Inn. I was at our Musick-Meeting; and as I was going thither after 6 a clock when it was dark, having passed through my Doors in Close-Hall; about the middle of the Walk there, a Young Lass with a pale red Silk Short Apron and Flower’d Manteau, knowing me by my Philosophical Lantern, came running along by me, on the left hand, turning her Face; and very soon after I met one with a lac’d Hatt which I took to be the Younger Brother of the Keens, from whom she seem’d to part when I first perceiv’d her to run. About an hour after I saw the same Apron and Manteau in the Flail amongst the Gentlewomen that were there; and Miss Layng (Dr Layng’s oldest Daughter) wore them. 21 I went to Close-Hall, to the Practice of the Caecilia- Song, for tomorrow. Mr Priest and Dr Barret of Bristow, were there and they both Assisted with their Hands. Mr Clark, for whom I had sent to Bristow by Jack came in to us, and with him Mr Duglass the Black- moor Trumpeter (who is one of the best in England on that Instrument) and he Sounded Two Sonatas very finely. Both these Musicians lodg’d at my House; and after our Concort was over Mr North came and Supp’d with them, and we sate up till one a clock. 25 I went with Sr John Trevelian’s Servant (before 7) for Nettlecomb to see my Lady Trevelian: We came to Bridgwater half an hour past 12; Drank 2 pints of White Lisbon Wine at the Swan, and then rode on, and came (about 5) to Sr John Trevelian’s House. . . . My Lady was by an Atrophy and Hectick-Fever with Loosness, under Dr Musgrave’s Care, in about 3 1 65 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Months quite worn out, and but not just dead. Mr Sampson Dr Musgrave’s Apothecary, who had for many weeks constantly attended, was there.1 Nov.27 I continued at Sr John Trevelian’s. About 3 a clock Sr John (a Servant being sent to Taunton to meet him and hasten him) came home. In the Evening I vomited my Lady 4 times with Vitrioli, which did her some good. I again lodg’d at Nettlecomb. 29 I went from Sr John Trevelian’s to Sr Francis Warr at Hestercomb. I came thither about 3, and found Sr Francis seiz’d with a \blank\ from a translation of a Dropsie to the Brain. I told my Lady Warr I had no hopes of relieving him, and that I thought it as improb¬ able as to throw 6 upon 6 Dies. Prescribed and lodg’d at Sr Francis Warr’s. Dec. 1 Mr Laurence Coward rode with me to shew me the way to Dursley in my way home, which I took by Ling and Barrow-Bridge. I came home about 5. And found a Letter from Mr Newman at North Cadbury, to whose Lady my Daughter with my leave went on Wednesday last to make a visit in which was an Account, that Mr Burland came to his House Wednesday in the Evening, and told him that he was Married to her August 28 last, which she also own’d. For which he expressed a very great Concernment knowing the great Aversion I had to this Match which I had always expressed, and taken all the Pains I possibly could to prevent. 2 Bettey Burland sent a Letter to my Wife to desire her to intercede with me to pardon her and her Husband. 6 Visited Dr Creyghton, and represented the abominable Injury the Sacrist had done me; And I was with Mr Chancellour Bridges, on the same account. 11 Was called to Mary Sheat at the Palace; and afterwards I waited on the Bishop. And he talked about the in- gratful and villanous action of Sam Hill, in clandestinely Marrying my Daughter to Mr Burland.

1 Dr. Musgrave was born at Nettlecomb and practiced in Exeter. He was very distinguished both in medicine and science and Secretary of the Royal Society. 66 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

Dec. 19 Mr Parker came in from Stone-Easton, and we having just Din’d, my Wife got provided for him a Dish of Beef-Steaks, and potted Venison. 22 Called to Mr. Hooper at Stratton, Mr Lucas went with me.1 The Snow was generally, on Mendip about a foot deep; and in some places up to the Bellys of our Horses. 23 Tom Parfit and I look’d on Mr Davis’s Galaish, and considered how to bring mine to a Carriage for 4 wheels. 27 My Wife had from London two Suits of Clothes to give to my Daughter, for Good-Handsell.2 29 Set in order my Account-Book for the next Year. I was to have Dined at the White-Horse Mr Lucas and Mrs Bailey entertaining there with a Guinea a piece Wager-Money: But my Work in the Laboratory hinder’d me from being there: However about 3 a clock I went to the Company there and staid till 6. Thence I went to Mr Nikels’s Entertainment. We supp’d at Mr Nikels’s Expense in the Hall: And as it came to my turn I sung 3 Songs.

1719 Jan. 1 My son being Ill, and supposing it would come to the Measles, I gave him a gentle Purge just as I saw imme¬ diately some Breaking Out on the Skin. The Purge made him very sick, and work’d with him 3 or 4 times. About 5 in the Afternoon 5 Spoonfuls of his Cordial- Mixture were given. In the evening I was (being invited) at Mr. Malet’s, where I danced to the Brown’s Musick. 2 My Son was very likely to Die in the Measles; though they were come out. Bettey Burland and her husband came from Mr. Malet’s to see Willie by his desire, but I saw not either of them. 5 At the Crown Inn; Where I read a Confirmation of the Magnanimous King of Sweden’s being killed by a Musquet Shot from Fredrickshall Dec:n.

1 Lucas was the Surgeon. 2 Bettey’s Stepmother seems always to have sympathised with and helped her. 67 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Jan. 8 I went to Tom Parfit’s to hear the Sound of Mr Hill’s new Harpsichord, ... I visited Mrs Hooper & stayed with her while she took a vomit. 16 Jack1 ran away from me when I began to chastise him for absenting himself from Dinner-time till Candle¬ lighting from my Business in the Elaboratory, and then when I sent him with a Prescription to Mr Cupper my Apothecary for not returning again till past 8 at night. 17 Mr. Evans came from the Chancellour to offer me to prosecute Sam Hill, for his irregularly Marrying my daughter to Mr. Burland with a License that was invalid in the Cathedral-Church of Wells, either by suspending him 3 years according to the Canon, or preventing him from a License to preach at Shepton Montague, the Bishop having only verbally allowed him the Advantage of doing so which on this rascally practice he is very much inclin’d to discontinue. . . . Jack Watts Mother came to talk with me about him, and I gave my Consent he should go whether he would, and I would take no notice of his obligation to serve me 7 years more which are to come of the 10 years he was bound to live obediently with me. Feb. 10 Mr, George Mattocks came to prevail (in vain) with me to pay for renewing Mr. Burland’s Interest in the Land he has of my Lord Clifford. ... I was at our Musick-Meeting, at the Organ, after it was made by Mr. Swasbrook a note Lower, was the first time play’d on: We bargained with Mr. Swasbrook to give him for that, and putting in a Bassoon-stop, and a Hoboy one into the Organ in Close-Hall—35 Guineas at 21s.2 12 I sent by my Wife to Mrs. Burland her Money in my Hands: namely 30^-15s; And the Interest of the 30^ for an year—305=3i^-i5S-ood; And also her old Gold [1 Scepter Jacobus, 1 simple Jacobus, 1 Carolus, 1 Half Jacobus, 1 Half Elizabeth, 1 Forraigne Pice of about 12s, 1 Crownpiece, and a Meddal left her by her Grand¬ mother Daw.] All in her Silver-wrought Purse.

1 His ipprentice, Jack Watts. 2 Per guinea the rate was often 21s. 6d. ►wing to the bad state of the coinage. 68 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

Feb. 17 I was at our Musick-Meeting where we had the first tryal of Hendel’s1 Pastoral. Mar. 18 I went from Somerton about 7 to call (being sent for) on Mr Fry’s Daughter Frances at Yearty in Membury in Devonshire. I rode by Cricket and called in on Mrs. Pitt . . . . And I came to Mr. Fry’s about 5. I found his Daughter so far exhausted by a Consumption of the Lungs and Hectick Fever; that I did not prescribe for her. And about 2 a clock she died. 1 came away from Yearty at 10. I lodg’d there (Sad- borrow) And in the evening about 8, So large a Meteor appear’d, and flamed for about one Minute, I being in the Great Parlour where the Window-Leaves were shut, did not see it: But all that did everywhere affirm’d, it’s Light was as bright as that from the Sunshine at Noon¬ day: so that most were excessively affrighted, and some fell down with it. After it there was a rumbling noise like that made by a Wagon goin on rough way for 2 or 3 Minutes, which I heard. This Meteor must be very high; for it was seen and heard exactly in the same manner at Wells. Apr. 23 Tom Parfit and I went to Bath to see the Manner and Proportion of the Battlements of a new-House espe¬ cially in Trim-Street. We Din’d at the 3 Tuns. Later I sent for Mr. Harvey the Stone.Cutter, and Discours’d with him; and agreed to give for his Son’s Cutting a Coat of Arms in my Brother Farewells Tomb.Stone 40s; And I was to send an Horse for him to Wells, and to supply him with Diet and Lodging; If he did it within a month from this time. Mr. Duglass the Black Moor Trumpeter came to us thither. May 15 The Claret (10 dozen) John Baker driving 2 horses Home, was seiz’d on, Forfited Goods, yesterday, by by the Lime [Lyme Regis] Custom House Officers. June 2 I went with Henry Bull and one John King, to whom he had Let a Common in Baltonsbury Wood, to the Consistory, and desir’d Mr. George Mattock to be my Proctor to defend them against the encroachments and

1 Handel. 69 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Sute of Mr Creech the Vicar of Balstonbury for Tithe of Sheep of the Commoners of West-Bradley. June 7 Mr. Pitt of Cricket call’d on me and gratified me with 30 Guineas for my Attendance 3 weeks on his wife 8 weeks ago. 22 Going to Stone-Easton betwixt Chewton and Mr Hyppesley’s one of the most Violent Storms of Rain and Haile, with Thunder and Lightening fell on me and continued till I came to Mr Hyppisley’s. 28 Mr. Agger preached a very pathetical and excellent Sermon on the Torments of Hell, from the Words— Knowing the Terr ours of the Lord we perswade Men. 29 Mr, Burland and his wife were at Pill But I did not see them. Mrs Berkeley, after they were gone back to Mr Martin’s, pressed me very much to admit my Daughter to visit me. July 2 Mr Pitt, Mrs Pitt, Mr Samuel Pitt of London, a young Clergy Man, Mr Laurence Coward, and Mr. Gibbs of Bath call’d at my House, and stay’d at the Door the the Drinking of 4 Bottles of my little parcel of 3 year ag’d October-Beer besides Wine. The Servants had Barreld October. 16 Mr Bragge, Mr Arthur Chichester, and I, at Sadborrow about 8 a clock went into the great Fish-Pond, a Swimming. 17 My Sister Bettey Bragge (after a long Sickness) Died about 2 a clock in the Morning. ... I came home about 6. Weather sunny Evening cloudy. From 9 a clock ’till 3, there were perpetual flashes of Fire (like Gung-Powder) which sometimes blazed much. 22 We continued at Sadborrow. My Sister Bettey Bragge was buried. Her Pall-Bearers were. My Lady Bridget Pawlet, Mrs Oglander, Mrs Amey Gwyn, Mr Gwyn, Mrs Alley Gifford, and Mrs Henly; Sr John Drake, Mr Gwyn, and Colonel Hallet were at the Funeral. 23 Mr Arthur Chichester took up, for a Wager of 7s, 100 Stones, 1 yd distant from each other. 24 My Wife and My Nephew Bragge deliver’d to the 3 Mrs Drews, to Mr Aish, and to Mrs Bettey my Sister Bettey Bragge’s Maid, what was given them besides Money, by my Sister Bettey Bragge’s Will; And Divided 7° EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

the Remainder of her Things betwixt them, my Wife giving Mr Bragge her half of the Mohair Bed. From 3 till 6 Mr Bragge, Mr Aish, Mr Charles Taylor, Mr, Lane, Mr Arthur Chichester and I, play’d Drink if You please I lost zs at it. 25 We came away from Sadborrow. My Nephew Bragge came with us as far as Crewkern; And his Sister and Mrs Pattey Drew had their Horses led, and came with my Wife and Mrs Anne Drew thither also and continued on quite to Somerton, and then they seemed willing to come on thorow to Wells; but were perplexed by a difficulty to send back their single Horses, there being only the Groom on a Stone-Horse1 which could not be commanded. So I gave a Man of Somerton 2s-6d to have their Horses back, and we all came home about 10. . 1 I rode home to see my Hay-making; And Will Clarke and another Man who were making a Rick in Westley’s Wood were both very fast asleep upon the top of a Load of Hay standing by the Rick in my Wagon. 6 Later I was at our Musick-Meeting; and Mr Ducket of Caune [Caine] in Wiltshire play’d on a Flute one song with us: But Mr Hill’s Harpsichord being near a note below Consort Pitch, and no sure Hand perform¬ ing the Trebles (being only young Ladds of Wells and Shepton,) our Musick was very mean. 14 The Cheshire Man who some years since sold me my sucking Instrument for Cupping came, and I writ 3 or 4 Lines to Helliar the Apothecary, approving its use. 26 I din’d at Hinton with Earl Powlet; My Nephew Bragge and Mr George Mattock being with me: We all went in my Nephew’s Coach. Later we played at Bragge. 27 My Nephew Bragge, Mr George Mattock, my Neece Molley Bragge, my Cousin Molley Drew, and I went to Charmouth, and from thence to Lyme, by Boat. Capt: Wade of Weymouth, whose Ship then lay in the Cobb, went with us. We din’d at the George in Lyme: Went afterwards to Mr Carswell. We went not out of Lyme till Candle lighting. . 2 Charles Taylor came and discours’d about Mr Bragge’s

Stone horse, i.e., stallion. 71 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

standing for a Parliament Man, and pressed me to do so. Sept. 3 Mr Chancellour Bridges came in there, and asked his Vote, and mine, for his Brother who stood for being Parliament-Man. 5 I invited the Family of the Taylors, and those that, by my Interest, would have voted for my Nephew Bragge’s being Elected their Burgess in Parliament, to drink an Hogshead of Strong Beer at Ben Taylor’s, and to give them liberty to be for whom they pleased. 12 Went to the Funeral of the Chancellour’s only Son; and had a Ring and Gloves. I made my Butter for Hair. Oct. 2 I bought an Anker of Claret. 5 Weather cloudy, and then sunny, in the evening Light and Streams of Light in the North West, and North. 21 My Sister Leigh came with her 2 Servants in the Stage- Coach for Bath. I was taken sick betwixt 11 and 12 a clock, with a shivering and coldness, like an Ague, I could not dine. I continued Ill all the afternoon. Pres¬ cribed for myself. 22 I took a Purging Bolus last night, and with drinking Bawm [balm] Tea, I attended on it working this day. I had 5 Stools. Mr Richard Healy came for me to direct his Brother Tom, now Batchellour of Arts of GGC:1 in his Studying Anatomy, Botany, Chymistry, and the Practice of Phisick, which I did; I went to Mr. Mer¬ chant’s (at Islington) to a Consort. I play’d but was not well. 23 My Daughter, with my Wife, Mrs Evans and all the Maid Servants came into my Chamber while I was putting on my Clothes. I refus’d to see her, and order’d her to be had down: And going into my Closset I shut the Door: But she open’d it, And with aboundance of Begging and Crying she forc’d me to beg God Almighty to bless her. . . . My wife also kept my Daughter at Dinner.2 Nov. 2 Mr. Charles Taylor came and desir’d me to go with Mr Chancellour Bridges to the Freemen at Stephen Main’s who met there frequently, and united to give

1 Corpus Christi College, Oxford. 2 This reconciliation was permanent. 72 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

their Votes as a last reserve but had not determined to which of the Candidates for a Representative in Parlia¬ ments. I did so, and we prevail’d on them to promise to Vote for Mr Serjeant Bridges. Nov. 8 I first wore my Rockloe to Church. 9 I went to Bath to call professionally on my Sister Leigh and, Mr Caine; I went by Polton and was 5 hours going my Journey. I Dined and Lodg’d at the Lamb. Saw Mrs Leigh at Mr Singers in the Church-yard. Visited Mrs. Prowse and her Son. Being invited by Mr Stagge to a Musick-Meeting at Malthouse I went and Supp’d there. Mr Caine was there with me, and he and Mr Doy a German Master came with me thence and stay’d with me till one a clock. 10 I came away from Bath at half an hour after 3, and I returned home (by Polton) in five hours. In the Evening there were white Flashes of Light rising from near the Horizon in the North East and West flying up to the Zenith (like a swift Cloud) and quickly spending itself and reviving: and it came so near over my House that I feared it would have set on Fire my House.1 11 I went (being invited to the Bull’s-Head), to Mr Ser¬ geant Bridges’s Entertainment of his Voters, And thence I was invited by Mr Chancellour Brydges to go to the Clubb of Freemen at Stephen Main’s, and prevent Mr Charles Barnes and the Town-Clark from drawing them away to the Adverse Interest; which I did, Mr Malet Mr Robert Taylor, and Mr Charles Taylor accom¬ panying me; Mr Irish came afterwards, and Mr Wm Baron and Mr Cordwent were there before: And we succeeded in our designe. Mr Chancellour Brydges came in afterwards to us: And lay’d down a Guinea towards the Reckoning, I lay’d down a Crown, Mr Wm Barnes did the same, and Mr Malet lay’d down Half a Crown. 15 In the Morning early wind near as turbulent as the Hurricane Nov: 1703.2

1 Clearly the Aurora Borealis, a rare phenomenon so far south. 2 When Bishop Kidder was killed at Wells by the fall of the Palace chimneys. 73 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Nov. 21 Mr Hill came and mended some faults in the Penning my Harpsichord. Mr Charles Mills came and Mr Chancellour Bridges came some little time after him; and we both endeavoured to fix his vote on Mr Sergeant Bridges: He had some doubts about his Brother’s approving his doing so. . . . James Parfit put on the Brass Gemels to my Harpsichord. 22 Mr Franklin preached in defence of Music. ... I sent for Mr Tho: Fry; And he assur’d me he would neither Vote for Mr Sergeant Bridges, nor Mr Edwards: For that he had with many Execrations affirmed he would never give his Vote meerly as a Freeman. I sent then for Stiles and got Mr Caine to promise to Join with me in Sealing a Deed which I had executed above 2 Years agoe to him of the Inheritance of a Garden Plott of Mr Odingsell’s Land. . . . For the doing which he engag’d he and his Father should Vote for Mr Sergeant Bridges. 23 It being the day of our Caecilia-Musick, I return’d by 2, Mr Clark who came yesterday in the Afternoon, and Mr Dingleston Din’d. Later Mr Dalaron a German Musician came and Din’d. We all went and perform’d Dr Croft’s Song for his Degree, and a great Deal of other Musick. We advanc’d the Tickets to 2s, and had as much Company as the last year. Dec. 4 I made some Horsebean Coffee.1 ii Went to church, Mr Bragge went with me. ... I drank Coffee at Mr Hills. . . . Mr Bragge and I went to Visit Mr Robert Taylor; He being not at home we went to Ben Taylor’s and treated Boord of Somerton to secure his Vote for Mr Sergeant Bridges. I writ a Lr. by Boord to Mr Beach to send to Mr Hughes to vote also. We went to Mr Hill’s; And Mr Mallet and I went out from thence to Joyce in Chamberlain- street to get his Vote who was secured by Simon Plaister Jun. and Beau Lovel which last was abusive in his Language to Mr Malet. i3 Tom Humfrey’s came and complain’d that Charles Tudway swore he would arrest him for a Debt of 15/^

1 From horse chestnuts. 74 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

to-morrow. He having been sent to by Mr Edwards, at the George, and press’d by him, Mr Whitchurch, and Mr Phelps of Froom, first to vote for Edwards for which his Debt should be forgiven him; And at last,to go out of Town. I went with Humfreys to Mr Brydges’s. Dec. 14 My Nephew Bragge and I went after 9 to Mr Worell’s the Mayor’s House, and attended him with Mr Sergeant Bridges and Mr Edwards to the Town-Hall: Afterwards the Poll for electing a Parliament man being adjourn’d to the Assize Hall, we went thither and Poll’d. I stay’d on the Bench till 7 a clock; when the Mayor being almost spent say’d he would adjourn the Poll to 9 a clock tomorrow-morning: But his voice being weak and low, and the Town-clerk not observing him Mr Pierce was fain to speak more audibly for him, and declare the Poll adjourn’d. The Serjeants not being to be found, to carry the Maces, the Mayor and all Mr Bridges’s Friends among whom I was one, went away with him: But Mr Edwards still kept on Polling. Mr Bragge and I went home about 7 to supper. 15 I went to Mr Pierce’s, and thence with him and Mr Sergeant Bridges to the Mayor’s, whence, before Ten, we went with Mr Edwards the Recorder and Mr Matthew Barns to the Assize-Hall, where Mr Sergeant Bridges had his Votes. After exceptions had been made to some of them, we Poll’d: Mr. Edwards had also his Votes Poll’d; the same whose Votes had been poll’d last night after the Adjournment had been made, and the Mayor gone away. A Scrutiny was demanded by Mr Sergeant Bridges before the Election was declard by the Mayor: But Mr Edwards, the Recorder, and Mr Matthew Bams would have the Mayor first pro¬ nounce Mr Edwards duly Elected his Number of Votes exceeding Mr Sergeant Bridges, by 35. . . . Later I made an end of a Harpsichord Jack of mine own Invention, to strike the String with Brass, without a Quill. I was at our Musick-Meeting. 28 I went to Mr Malets and Feed him for Drawing up an Agreement to be signed and Seal’d by the Proprietor in Baltonsbury-Wood, for having an Act of Parliament for dividing that Common. 75 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

1720 Jan. 4 I went to Charles Taylor’s, & Mr. Cupper’s about what I yester endeavour’d to prevail with him to do, which was to absent himself from the Checquer, that Mr. Malets endeavour to be Chosen one of the Capital Burgesses may not be frustrated, by strengthening Mr. Recorder Davis’s power in Chusing one of his recom¬ mending. But Mr. Cupper would not be persuaded with to comply with my Inclination; though he has had his all by my means. But I must be more negligent in encouraging Ingratitude. 6 I went to Lottesham, & called at Mr. John Cowper’s House; But he being not at home I left the Agreement (Drawn by Cousellour Malet, & engrossed on a Sheet of treble Stamp’d Royal-Paper by Mr. Hugh Brown) for getting an Act of Parliament for dividing the Common call’d Baltonsbury North-Wood among the Proprietors in it, Signd & Seald by my self & Colonel Pierce, with his Mother, & my Letter with it to acquaint that all those concernd that consent should do the same, & that he should [get] them all that were not too far off for him to go to, to Execute that Writing with the utmost expedition, & then send, or rather bring it to me, that I might send it to Colonel Peirs at the House of Commons. 17 Miss Nancey Dawe having continued all the night (with very short, & at last with no Intermissions) in the most violent and universal Convulsions (her left Leg & Arm being towards the Morning motionless but by being continued by the Convuls’d Body) died about 7. I writ a Letter, & my Daughter Burland sent her Boy with it, to Mrs. Mary Farewell at Horsington, to acquaint my Sister Farewell with it; And to know what was to be done about her Funerall. She had been with me at Wells 9 week last Friday, she coming Nov. 13. And was the most obliging. Flexible, Good- Natur’d, Ingenious, & Civil Pretty Girl of little more than 11 Years old that ever I knew. 20 I went to the Cathedral-Church to see the Walling of Miss Nancey Dawe’s Grave, & the Fitting of the

76 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CL AVER MORRIS’ DIARY

Covering Stones to it. ... I made the Funeral of Miss Nancey Daw. The biggest Bell began to be rung at i which was continued for 3 quarters of an hour; then it was tolld ’till we went to the Church; & after her Interment (which was at the Feet of the range of Graves where my Daughter Molley was buryed, the head of this Grave coming just to the North-East Corner of Molley’s Tomb-Stone) the Bell was rung one hour. I had Invited only the Pall-Bearers, Miss Fan- ney Lang, Miss Fanney Bridges, Miss Pope, Miss Nan¬ cey Creyghton, Miss Kittey Barron, & Miss Flora Gutch; The Corps-Bearers, Wm. Clark, his Brother, Mr. Burland’s Man James Roode, & my Man George Cham¬ pion; Mr. Hill who officiated in Burying her, Mr. Cup¬ per, Mr. Tick who Assisted in Serving the Wine, Mr. Brown who supplyd the Gloves & Scarfs, Goody Harvey who stretch’d her out, Mr. Drew’s Maid, & Mr. Cupper’s Maid, who were serviceable to her when she was seiz’d with the violent Pain in her Head at Mr. Cupper’s, which threw her very suddenly into Uni¬ versal Convulsions that took away her Life in about 18 hours; My Daughter Burland’s Maid who watched with her (as well as my 3 Maids), my Daughter whom I lead as chief Mourner, & the two Clarks. The Pall- Bearers had White Scarfs, Hoods, & Gloves; Mr. Hill had a Black Silk Hat-band tied with White Ribbon; And all the rest had Gloves. We went out with the Corps 10 Minutes before 3, & were at the Church exactly at 3 the time of beginning the Prayers. It being Mizling-rainy weather, the Quire began their Singing at the West Door of the Cathedral, & continued it into the Quire; & after the Evening Service was over they Sung the Funeral Office & at the Grave. And everything was perform’d very decently, & as became the Interment of so Religious, Ingenious, & Sweet Temperd a Girl, who was but 11 years old. The Bearers return’d to my House (as is usual) & so this Melancholy last Office to be done for her ended. 25 I pay’d Thomas Cooper the Sacrist his Bill of Fees, for the Interment of Miss Nancey Dawe in the Cathe¬ dral-Church zL-iys-iod. 77 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Feb. i I continued Ill, but not so bad as Yesterday. I could not eat but very little Broath, and less Turneps. 2 I continuing oppress’d with a very great Cold, Cough, Sc considerable Head-Ach, though my Fever was lessen’d. A Present of Half a Bushel of Oysters were sent me from Mr Symes of Bridgwater. 4 My Sheets not having been dried after my Swetting Tuesday-night, they felt very wet to me last night. And my greivous Cold was considerably encreas’d on me this day. 18 My Stomach growing worse with a greater propensity to being convuls’d I took a Vomit: . . . My Daughter Burland was deliverd of a Son Half an hour past 6 in the Morning. Mar. 3 My nephew Bragge came after 2, he coming to be Godfather to Morris Burland who was Christian’d at the Cathedral betwixt 3 & 4. 8 I got up, and after my Breeches only were slipped on (but not fasten’d at the knees) I put on everything excepting my shoose, & compleatly dress’d my self in 2 Minutes, by my Wife’s Watch which I desired her to observe. 13 I gave 2 Silver Spoons to Wm Clarks Wife, for Good- Handsel. 17 Visited Mr Shirley at Sherborn. He was very Ill of a Jaundice, Sc his Physican Dr Bull not discerning rightly his Disease, & Prescribing very languid Medicines for what he thought it. He desired mine Assistance, Sc I Prescribed. 27 Mr. Franklin Preach’d again that foolish Sermon against making difference in Meats, as he did the last Lent. Apr. 7 I cut my Son’s Hair. Mr. Creyghton came Sc went with me to his Grammar-School, to hear his Boys Declaim Sc speak Verses. I gave them 5s. Afterwards I Dined with the rest of the Company he had Invited, at his House. Mr Burland was there. May 19 It raind last night & this morning so long Sc violently as had scarcely been known before: So that the streets notwithstanding the considerable descent, were so full that the water came high into the Shopps, Sc did very much Harm: It came into the Gate House at the Swan, 78 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

& from thence flowed into the Cellar so that it over¬ turned the Hogsheads & spoyld 40L worth of Beer. June 6 I bespoke of John Bird an Hammer & Horse-Foot- Picker clap’t into it with a Spring of mine own invent¬ ing, to relieve an Horses Foot from a Stone or Gravel on the Road. 10 [At Bath] I met with Colonel Wyndham, his Son John, & Mr. Tomson the Organist of Salisbury. I saw Dr. Sacheverel. 21 Visited Mrs. Martin of East-Pennard. Mr. Day came just before I went; & Colonel Horner’s Keeper brought me half a Buck, it being desir’d for the entertainment. 24 I went to Mr. Comes’s, & finish’d the Rate for the 3s Pound-Tax for Coxeley Tything. I went to my Daugh¬ ter, & comply’d with her Inclination for her Husband to take of my Lord Waldegrave the encrease of 200 principal Stock in the South-Sea-Company, if it would yield 2000L, for his 2 Old Lines in Spaxton-Farm. 30 Mr. Arthur Chichester, & I, visited Colonel Horner at Mells. We Dined there. Mr. Wickham of Froom came in, to us. The Colonel brought us going to shew us his Plantation of Black-Cherry-Trees, by the Lodge in his Park. July 8 I dined at the George in Crewkern, also Dind 3 Gentle¬ men; One an Officer of the Customs in Cornwall, going into Kent, & the 2 other were going into Cornwall from London; These I found were High-Church-Men, and one of them who invited me, if at any time in London, to his House in Fane-Church-street, was a very pleasant Companion, & his Name was Howard. 21 I, being pitch’d on to determine a Wager betwixt Mr. Perry & Mr. Prickman on the goodness of their Viols, went to Elias Pierces, where we had a great Consort. 28 Mr. Pierce, Mr. Chancellour Bridges, Mr. Comes, and I went to West-Bradley, about Partitioning the Com¬ mon of Baltonsbury North-Wood; We met Mr. Berke¬ ley & Mr. Martin in the Common; And viewed it all. We came to Bradley Inn; And the Commissioners Acted the 3d time. Mr. Wm Baron came but having drank much was of no great use.

79 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Aug. 2 Visited Mr. JefFerys at Mells. Prescribed for Mrs Horner. Colonel Strangways’s Chaplin (one of the Fellows of New-College) was there: And he, as well as Colonel Horner & his Lady, being vehemently against Mr. Malet’s joining with Mr. Piers, in his attempt to be Elected a Representative in Parliament for Wells, or my abetting Mr. Piers’ Interest, notwithstanding the Service he had done me, I said to him if he could find out that Mr. Piers had given his Vote in Parliament once within these 3 Years against the Good of his Country, or Church of England, I would smother my Vote. I returned home by 8, & went to our Consort, at Close-Hall where Mr. Spittle was, & much Company; & we tried Handel’s Anthem (My Song shall be King.) 12 I went with Mr. Salmon to Mr. Lanyon, my Lord Brooke’s Steward who kept Court1 at the George; & I bargain’d with him, though with much difficulty (he asking 4 Year’s Purchase for adding one Life according to the South-Sea Price of Lands,) to Change 2 Lives, & add one. 20 I executed 3 Deeds, relating to Ditchet Castle-Cary & Hatspill, sent by Mr. Halls Clerk. Sept. 8 I return’d by Mr. Pain’s Message2 That I look’d on the Dean & Dr. Archer to be the whole Chapter, at least vertually so, & I would say nothing to the rest; But desir’d him he would tell these two, that I wish’d they would have acted Honestly this once: But, I must look on them as two egregiously unjust & knavish Rascals to keep my Wall which cost me more than 40s, & not allow me what I accepted for it though not worth is. 10 I receiv’d a Letter from Mrs. Malet, that her Husband had Thursday Sept: 8 bought for my use 100L South-Sea Stock at the price of 700L for the next opening of the Books the 21st of this Month. 20 I mentioned the Foolishness of the Dean Brailsford for reprehending Lane the Bell-Toller for not asking his leave to toll the Mattins Bell a quarter of an hour after

1 The Manorial Court. 2 This message was part of a long controversy about a lease, granted by the Dean and Chapter to Morris.

80 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAYER MORRIS5 DIARY

6 when without his doing so there was no seeing to read the Psalms. I was at our Musick-meeting. Sept. 21 I went according to my Promise, Sc playd Manga!a with Mrs. Piers. I supp’d there, & came away about 11.

27 I was at our Musick-meeting. Vivaldi’s Concerto call’d The Cuckoe, & the Extravagant were very well playd. Oct. 2 I visited Mr. Seymour’s Son Conway at Rudghilbury; I went out on my Journey at 5, & intending to go by Cumpton-Martin, missed my way beyond Priddey Mineries, & found myself mistaken when I came to Highdon-Lodge: Then I thought of going by Blaidon, but went to the Bogg near Charter-house Cupiloe & had much adoe to ride over: Then I went to Blaidon Lodge, & so to my Journey’s end; And between Butcombe, & Rudghilbury I met with such a storm of Rain that I think I was never in a greater.

25 I set 4 Jerusalem Artichoaks by the Stable Dung-hill, & in the late Rick-barton in Mr. Creyghton’s Ground. Nov. 2 Mr. Bower came & pay’d towards the Charge of the Act of Parliament & other Expenses in this Partition— ayL-ios-ood, for 11 Commons which he had Purchas’d: And threaten’d the Commissioners with Suits of Law for Allotting to some better Ground than to others; I was also menaced with his Law because he said my share of Ground was bigger (as he had been told) than it should be, by an Acre. He behav’d himself with great Insolence to the Commissioners, & little Sense. And accus’d Mr. Higgens the Measurer of Partiality & inequality; Though the whole Common was measur’d before it was allotted to any one. And he never appear’d to have bought any Commons ’till every one except two were assign’d to the several Proprietors; And yet he was comply’d with, to have those he had bought exchang’d, & put as near together in the place he desir’d as ’twas possible for them to be. We came home by the Moon¬ light. 7 I directed about setting up Leaden Coolers in my Brew-House. 12 Mr. Hebdon sent me, by his Neighbour John Cole, 5 Guineas for my Advice & Prescriptions for his

F 81 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Daughter whom I recover’d, out of the worst sort (the crude confluent Small-Pox). Nov. 15 Though it was almost 3 a clock when I went to bed, 1 got up at 5, intending to go to wait on my Mother; Mr. Burland, his Wife & her Maid made themselves ready to go with me. 19 I got up before 6, & lighted my Candle by the help of my Tinder-Box in my Saddle-Baggs. 21 I was at Close-Hall at our Practice of the Cecilia Song for tomorrow. Mr. Dingleton came in with us I having sent for him to Bristow to assist our Consort with his Basson, Trumpet, or Hautboy. 22 I went to the Cathedral, & join’d in the Practice of the Anthem, it being St. Cecilia’s-day. I return’d to the Church, & play’d the Anthem. I had a new Hand made of Deal, by Thomas Parfit, put into the Time-Beater. ... I went to our Cecilia-Meeting at Close-Hall where we had very good Musick, & we perform’d every Piece exactly. We had but 33 who pay’d 2s a piece for Tickets: I pay’d for my Wife, Son, Daughter, Her Husband, Mrs. Evans, & my self 12s. When all the Expenses were discharg’d, 9s-5 d were lay’d out more than we had receiv’d. 24 Mr. Hillard the Apothecary came to desire me to go to that vicious Woman Mrs. Franklin dangerously Ill of the Small-Pox; But I refus’d to have anything to do with her. Dec. 6 Thomas Parfit, Charles Taylor, & I went to West- Bradley, to meet Mr. Gardener the Church-warden there, at the Church, whose Timber (the Lead of one side being sometime since taken off to be new wrought,) was found to be utterly decayd, & rotted. We all concluded there must be a Roof entirely new: But did not come to a settled agreement with Thomas Parfit, for how much Money to have it done. We afterwards went down into Baltonsbury North-wood, & measur’d my new made Hedge & Ditch (which were 5350 Chains; & also measur’d that which Astin or Bower were to make against my Enclosure which to mine own expense, & loss of Ground. Having to do with a couple

82 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

of Rogues, I order’d my Hedgers to Dike & plant with Quick-Sets like the rest, being 6s, 43 Chains. The Water rose so high in the Brook by Cowards that the Horses were driven over it Sc just like to swim. Sc I went over the Bridge on Foot, Sc came through Gardeners Grounds to Mr. James Slade’s in West- Pennard. I had Thomas Parfit, Sc Charles Taylor after their supping with me to our Musick-Meeting, when Miss Catherine Layng, Sc a Young Woman who was a Singer in Hereford-shire who had an extraordinary fine Voice, & a very good manner. Sung. Dec. 15 Mr. Higgens & Colemer, came about 9 a clock to my House, Sc told me that some of the Discontented Persons of Baltonsbury had Hired one Tutton of Theal to Measure their Allotments in Baltonsbury North- Wood, & that they were come to complain to the Commissioners who by their adjournment Dec. 1 were to meet at the Christopher in Wells this day. Mr. Higgens & Colemer & I, went thither where Mr. Chancellour Brydges, Mr. Comes, & Mr. Baron were, & in a short time after Mr. Martin came in also. Brown, & Fox well, the Widow Man & 3 or 4 more affirm’d their Commons were too small, Sc that Comes’s & Hooper’s wTere too big; Tutton their Measurer affirming the same. After much Altercation the Commissioners resoivd to get a Third Measurer to prove whether Higgens or Tutton’s Measure were right in these shares: And if the former appear’d to be true, then they would conclude all were so; If the latter, then the Per¬ son procurd to discover this difference should measure all that were suspected to have error in them. . . . Henry Bull sent a Letter to me on purpose by Thomas Pippin, that several Beasts had trespass’d on my Share in the Common & trodden down the new Fences, & that he had empounded, & stray’d one Bullock, Sc would know what he should do in this Case. I answer’d him that he should do just as he would if he had been trespass’d in his home-ground; & I would bear him out in it. The Commissioners declar’d, that having given notice that the Common should be hayn’d ever since putting up the Gates, That any one that found any

83 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Cattle great or small, or Horses in their Ground should empound them. Dec. 25 I receiv’d the Sacrament of the Eucharist. . . . We perform’d Mr. Brodrip’s Christmass Hymn. We all went to Church, & thence came back to our Musick again. Dr. Layng, Mr. Wm Baron, Mr. Keen, & Mr. Cupper, Mr. George Mattocks, & Mrs. Lemmon, & abundance of Gentlewomen also. . . . Those of the Performers who stay’d ’till about 8 Supp’d, & after¬ wards took a Glass of excelent October ’till about 11.

1721 Jan. 10 I was at our Musick-Meeting; And it being the Begin¬ ning of the Sessions a very great Company of Strangers was there; Amongst which were Dr. Helliard, a Physi¬ cian, & Mr. Hayward who practices Physick, both of Taunton. 18 I made some Lemon-Butter for my Perukes. Henry Coxe Sold me his Estate at West-Bradley for 400L, & I gave him 5 Guineas in Earnest, & we afterwards Executed a Covenant of this Bargain, at the Crown- Inn. 21 Eve Stacy came, & for her Husband (he being afraid of the Small-Pox) Agreed to Rent Puridge another Year. Mary Gould my Cook-Maid was so Ill in Convul¬ sive Cough that all concluded she was Dieing. Feb. 21 Mr. Hill, Mr. Lucas, & I went to Mr. Burland’s, to see his & his Wife’s Pictures, & Breakfasted upon Choca- late. 22 W L [worked in Laboratory] & was driven out by the Smoke of Burning the [sulphur] mix’d with the [quicksilver] in making iEthiops minerale. 28 I went to Mr. Berkeley at Pill to talk with him about his Mother who for near 3 weeks had been squandering Money at Wells. Mar. 2 I went to West-Bradley, & had Wm Clark with me, to number the Ant-Hills in my Ground in Baltonsbury North-wood, in order to have them cast. I had into the Inclosure Henry Bull, his 2 Daughters, & Thomas Pippin, to help me: But we could not quite do it before Night, though we all 7 began about it at 11 a clock, &

84 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

told (by sticking Half Sparrs, 1200 of white & 1200 of red, into every Ant-Hill, & partitioning the Ground with 2 Lines at 60 paces distance each from the other)— 11400. I left the remainder, which were about 500, to be number’d by Henry Bull, the Night preventing the finishing this work. Mar. 9 Mrs. Evans was displeas’d with some of my Maid Servants for employing one to Hang her Dog which was found & brought to her dead; Though they all vehemently deny’d it. My Wife was so Ill with a Cough, Spitting, & a Fever, she kept Chamber. 16 I visited Mr. Joseph Norton whom I had recover’d, though when I was first sent for to him every one thought he was without the possibility of living 2 days. 27 I went to Mr. Hill’s to take the Wager of a Bottle of Wine he lost to me about the time of William the Conquerer’s Reigne. Mr. Lucas, Mr. Burland, & Mr. G. Mattocks, were there. We stay’d ’till 11. 30 I was at the Grammar-School, & heard the Orations, Declamations, & Verses, spoken by the Boys, My Son Speaking a Copy of Verses. Apr. 7 Mr. Chancellour Brydges Preachd an excellent Manly Sermon against the Heresy of the Socinians, It being Good-Friday. 10 I went to Baltonsbury, (it being Easter Monday,) & carried the Deed of Allotment of the several Shares of the Proprietors in Baltonsbury North-Wood; Which I deliverd (in the Presence of Henry Bull,) to Mr. John Cowper; And he promis’d me he would take care it should be put in, & kept in the Church-Coffer. 26 We had in the Evening a good Consort of Musick, & playd 3 of Alberti’s Consertos. 30 I answer’d Capt: Nat: Farewell’s Letter about his being secur’d of his Pew in Horsington Church-Porch, after I had been with the Chancellour Mr. Pope about it. May 3 Visited Walter Stone at Downside with Mr. Lucas. Dined at Mrs. Long’s. Mr. Lucas took off Walter Stone’s Leg there. 5 1 went at 6 for Ambresbury; Mr. Burland accompanying me; And expected to join in with Mr. Berkeley at Ever- creech: But he being there an hour before us, he went 85 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

on, & we could not overtake him ’till we came to Wily where he was refreshing himself at the Signe of the Bull: We stayd 2 hours there, & came to Ambresbury about 5. Mr. Berkeley bought a Coach-Mare for me this Evening of Laurence Burgess a Jockey, of Marie- borough, at the George where we Lodg’d. May 6 We continued searching to find a Fellow to the Coach- Mare; And before 8 Mr. Berkeley bargaind for one in the Stables of the same House, which we had been looking on over-night; And I pay’d John Betteridge of Hungerford for her, & at the same time I pay’d Laurence Burgess for that bought of him. Afterwards we walkd about the Fair till our Dinner or rather Breakfast (which was Beef from the Spitt) was ready; Then we went into the Full Horse-Fair, & Mr. Berkeley Bought two Young Coach-Geldings, & a Black Saddle-Horse. About 3 a clock we came away (Mr. Perry coming with us to Stone-Henge to see it, & thence going towards Maryborough,) We Baited at Wily & could reach no farther than Meere, where we Lodg’d at the Ship. 3i I was seized with an Ague about 3 a clock. June 3 I had the second Fit of a Quartan-Ague about 5. 4 I was let Blood by Mr. Cupper to 17 oz. in my Left- Arm. 5 I had a very troublesome Night, being in extreme pain in the Fore part of the middle of my Left Thigh as if the Bone had been grinding to pieces: When I was out of Bed the Pain was less. I could not eat anything but a dish of Herb Pottage about 8 in the Evening. 28 I pay’d my Wife her Pocket-Money; & all my Servants their Wages. July 1 I went to Mr. Comes, to desire him to meet me & the rest of the Commissioners about the Land-Tax which could not be yet adjusted for the Liberty; And to abet my remonstrance against being Assess’d 3s more than formerly on my House, when no one else was advanced in the whole Liberty. About 5 I went to the Mitre, where were Mr. Davis, Mr. Comes, Mr. Charles Baron, & Mr. Matthew Baron. Mr. Davis & I had some talk, when I told him that in the 1700, I could not have suspected I should ever have reap’d the Fruit of such 86 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

an Animosity which he had for some years past very discernibly cultivated: He began to recriminate; But at last seem’d to relent: And my being singled out for bearing an unequal Burden, was no more insisted on. And he deny’d his having directed, or so much as suggested to the Assessor James Beaton, that I should be charg’d more than heretofore. 6 John Middle, Sc his Son Wm Middle went about the Grounds, with us. I had them to Puridge-House, Sc gave them 3 Bottles of my Beer there, which were 9 years old, Sc 8 years in Bottle, & yet Mantled, Sc was very good Sc mellow. 11 I writ to Mr. Christopher Perry at London, about my South-Sea Affair; Sc about a Calesh. 14 Colonel Horner Sc I set out, on our Resolutions:1 But my Horse slip’d Sc fell down on one Side (a little above Mr. Hamilton’s House) in a very dirty place: So I was fain to go back home to change almost all my Clothes; Which so waste our time that we did not go by Montacute. 19 Mr. Robert Harrington, Sc Mr. Edward Harrington came, Sc after Supper I taught them the game of Mangala. . 3 Mrs. Berkeley sen. Sc her Companion Mrs. Horner came. Mr. Martin Sc Mr. Burland came. I shew’d em all the producing Flame by mixing two Liquors (strong Spirit of Nitre Sc Oyl of Turpentine;) 13 Colonel Horner sent his Keeper to me with Half a Buck of very fine Sc excessively fat Venison. 14 I directed Wm Watts to make me a Vest of Witney Rugg; to work in my Elaboratory. 16 Mr. Anthony Raymond brought in 6 pints of Citron- Water sent me by his Father from Barbadoes. 29 I filed even all the Teeth, except one of the Crown¬ wheel of my Repeater, & finish’d my work about it. . 11 Dr. Bacon & I with him in his Coach & Mr. Burland went to the Inne at Cannard’s-Grave; To Meet Mrs. Malet’s Herse, we being Pall-Bearers, Sc Mr. Chancel- lour Bridges; We got thither by half an hour past 11.

To go to Sadborow and by the way to dine at my Lady Phelips’. 87 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Mr. Berkeley came thither next, then Mr. Rider, & shortly after, Mr. Long: After 2 the Herse came Sc we had our Scarfes, Hat-bands, Rings, & Gloves, in about half an hour’s time, Sc attended the Herse to Wells Cathedral Church, where the Interment was imme¬ diately performed, Sc then we were all invited to Mrs. Berkeley’s, where she had provided a very handsome Entertainment of Cold Meats: where I stay’d ’till 7. Sept.29 Visited Mr. Sadbury’s Son Wm at Axbridge; Capt. N: Farewell went with me, & we rode to Mr. Prowses Pleasure-House on Whivering-Down, to entertain him with the line Prospect there. We came home Shackley-wood way, just as ’twas dark. Oct. 3 [At Bristol.] We went, & bought many things of Mr. Tho. Edwards Ironmonger at the Great-gun in Wine- street. We Breakfasted on Roast Beef. We had our Horses to be led to Berminster Glass-House; & Mr. Til Adam shew’d us my Sister Farewell’s House for a Ware-House which we desir’d him to sell for her; afterwards he led us to Queen’s-Square where we drank a pint of White-Lisbon-Wine, & then he went with us cross the Square to the Ferrey, from whence he shew’d us a very streight way which came out with a lane opposite to the whimsical Plummer’s House behither RadclifF-Church. ... I bespoke several Things at the Glass-House; Sc there we took leave of Mr. Til Adam about 1 Sc came home at half an hour after 5. We supp’d and went to our Musick-Meeting. 6 Capt. Farewell, Mr. Perry, Sc I went to Bath, to Hear Senior Geminiani, the best Player on a Violin in Europe. We dined at the Lamb; Sc not having a better way of coming into his Company than by the mediation of Mr. Harrington we went to Kelston where Mr. Ash happen¬ ing to be, he was so kind to undertake we should heare this admir’d Performer. We had a long Consort at Mr. Harington’s. 7 Mr. Ash went with us to Bath, & introduc’d us into the Company of Geminiani, (at Mr. Stagg’s House), & he entertain’d us with the utmost Civility as well as his wonderful Hand on the Violin. G Mr. Comes, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Keen, Mr. Burland, 88 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

Mr. Perry, & Mr. Laurence Coward were at Colonel Pier’s with me, it being a sort of Meeting after Mr. Hamilton’s & Colonel Piers’s reconciliation, prepara¬ tory to their being Candidates for the next Election of Members of Parliament if the present House of Com¬ mons be not by a new Act (contrary to the Constitution) prolong’d.1 Oct. 19 I went to Ditchet to enquire into the Value of those Lands which John Wade Mortag’d for my Mother’s 200L. He being about fortnight ago dead of the Small-Pox, which Disease he had & was 12 days blind with, & very much mark’s with 14 years ago, & with which he now infected very many of the Parish who came to visit him in his Sickness not believing he had this Disease again which had so severely affected so long ago. Nov. 6 I being invited went to the Funeral of Comet Hick¬ man who last Thursday night was kill’d by Capt. Lemmon at the White-Horse-Inne Door. Dec. 1 Wm Clark brought home a Hogshead of Claret, in the Morning early, from Sadbury, coming from thence ah night.2 4 Being my Daughter’s Birthday I went to her House about 5 & Carryed a Pottle Bottle of French Claret. 8 A Fast-Day to Deprecate the Pestilence now raging in France. I got up at 6. Dr. Hunt Preach’d. I did not Eat or Drink ’till after 6 in the Evening.

1722 Jan. 14 I writ to Capt. N. Farewell, to Bargain with Mr. Edward Burchmore Coach-maker at the Blackamoore’s Head in Cow-lane near Smithlield, to make a Calash for 40 or 45L. 15 I certified to the House of Commons Mr. Henry Strodes Inability to go thither being afflicted then with the Stone & Colick. 18 I Dined at my Sister Farewells, & stay’d ’till near 4. In my way home, I call’d at Henry Bull’s at Yarlington Sc

1 The Septennial Act passed in 1716. 2 This no doubt was smuggled.

89 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

sat on Horse-back at his Door, almost an hour. I returnd home at Half an hour past 9. Jan. 19 I Visited my Daughter, she haying been, Yesterday morning about 8 a clock, deliverd of a Daughter. Mr. Brook of Axbridge came, with Mr. Thomas Parht & set up the Five-Feet Pendulum Clock which I bespoke of him & calculated. I pay’d him 6 Guineas for it without a Case. 28 Mrs. Evans, my Wife, & I, being invited Dined at Mrs. Berkeley’s in the Liberty, where there were 27 at Dinner. Feb. 7 I wash’d the mercury for my inlay’d Barometer. 26 I came home from Somerton; And at Weary-All Hill my Mare was so frighted at a Young Bear that was lead along, that she ran down a very Steep & high place into the Hollow Way: But by the favourable Providence of Almighty God I was not thrown down. ^ I was at our Musick-Meeting. 28 I writ to Mr. Christopher Perry, & sent him Bills on the South-Sea Accomptant for him to receive my 3 Dividends owing to me for my 100L Capital Stock. Mar. 1 I was one of the Pall-Bearers at Mr. Naishe’s Funeral. I press’d out the Juice of the Lemmons I bought at Somerton, & mix’d it with twice as much French Brandy. 6 I went to Mr. Lucas’s & was there when he drew out a Polypus from Mr. York’s left Nostril. 15 I met in Sedge-moor Wells Rabble on Horse-back to meet Mr. Gwyn who came to be made a Burgess for his Election as a Member of Parliament. 16 I went to Mr. Hill’s where many of the Gentlemen of the Country, as Sr John Trevillian, Sr Copplestone Bampfield, Mr. John Bampfield, Sr Wm Wyndham, Colonel Horner, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Phelips & many others were. I went with most of the Corpora¬ tion to the Town-Hall where Sr Wm Wyndham, & Mr. Gwyn, were Sworn Burgesses. We returnd to the George, & Dined there. 19 Visited My Lady Phelips at Montacute: By the way I calld to see Captain Hody; who being at the Swan in Ilchester with Moor & Burrough, two of the Candidates

90 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS5 DIARY

for Members in the ensuing Parliament, I went thither to him. Apr. 23 I went to our Size-Hall to give my Vote for the Elec¬ tion of the Honourable George Hamilton Esqr, & Wm Piers Esqr to be elected Representatives in the ensuing Parliament. I was soon poll’d, but yet I con¬ tinued on the Bench observing the most unequal ' Practice of the Mayor (Luff) who deny’d to accept the Votes for these Candidates, though such as he had offer’d to bribe to his Party, in one place ’till near 7 a clock the next Morning. We had a Majority of Voices (besides more than 20 which the Mayor would needs reject) by the account of all the Clerks who severally writ them down. But the Town-Clerk (Gutch) set down a few, as he had a mind; & so without letting the Candidates inspect his List he reported the Numbers each had by his Account with out taking any notice of those of the other Clerks, & even those very zealous for the opposite Side. And the Mayor immediately declar’d Mr. Gwyn, & Mr. Edwards duly Elected. May 2 Fear of Glastonbury (a Quaker) came to me, with Mr. Tutton, to Signe a Paper wherein some of the Com¬ moners in Common-Moor agreed to stand by the Rive [Reeve] in Case he should be put to Charges for Empounding the Cattle of some obstinate People who were it seems resolv’d to Shoot [i.e. drive on their beasts] the Common tomorrow, though by the Order of the Commissioners it has been Haynd since Apr: 2. To which I subscrib’d my Name. 14 P. Mr. Symes sent me a Salmon. 27 I read to my Family in Dr. Comber’s Advice to the Roman-Catholicks of England. 30 Mr. Nooth telling my Son his Fault three or 4 times in Holding his Pen, & he committing the same again I struck him a Slap on the Hinder part of his Head with the Palm of my Hand; But that did not make him mend it. June 13 I went at 7 a clock with my Son in my New Calesh, (being the first time I ever rode in it,) for Sherborn, to put him to School, to Mr. Wilding. My Servant Geroge Champion drove my Pair of Mares, & Tom

91 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Harvey rode by on my Riding Mare. We went through Yarlington, & being to Visit Henry Bull's Daughter who was then my Patient, We stopp'd there. Baited our Horses & Dined at his House; to which we came at a quarter before 12, & stay’d there till almost half an hour past 4: We had a little hindrance by meeting a load of hay in the Bottom over against Cumpton-Pansford; & we came into Sherborn, to the Crown-Inn at 8 a clock. I sent for Mr. Wilding, & he Supp’d with me, & stay'd 'till about 11 a clock. June 14 My Son, & I being invited, & my Cousin Tom Pope, went at half an hour after 8, to Breakfast with Mr. Wilding: He invited us all to Dine with him. So my Cousin Tom Pope, my Son, & I, went & bought of Mr. Wickham a Silver Spoon (according to the Custome of the School) to be left to Mr. Wilding: Went also, & bought, of Mr. King, a Bureau for my Son to keep his Clothes, & other Things in his Chamber in; Being what I thought most convenient for him. We call'd at my Cousin John Pope’s House. We & Mr. Charles Newman Dined at Mr. Wildings. Then we went & saw Mr. Portman’s new Building; . . . Mr. Windsor the Organist going by the Door I call’d him in & agreed to give him 10s a Quarter to continue my Son on the violin. 15 My Son & I went after Breakfast at about 9 a clock to Mr. Wildings, to see my Sons Lodging, and put his Things into his Bureau. Which Mrs. Wilding & I did. I gave her a note of his Linning, which she look’d over. And when I came down to Mr. Wilding I found my Cousin Pope was come thither. I took my leave of Mr. Wilding. And my Cousin Pope went with my Son & me to my Quarters, where we drank a pint of White- Wine; & then we went to give something to Miss Bettey Daw, at Mrs. Priaux’s, whom her Uncle Tom Daw, her Guardian, has been such a Villain to, as not to supply her with more than one Sixpence or pay for any thing this poor Girl of about 12 years old has had (being at Mrs. Priaux’s Dancing-School ever since her Father Died, which is Five years ago). July 19 I bought, in the Castle in Bristow, a large Cock for the

92 EXTRACTS FROM DR, CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

Cistern in the Garden, & a Brass Wind-fall for the lower Pipe of my Pump. I bought, betwixt the Bridge & the Back, a Lock for my Coach-House Door. I went to Mrs. Northmores about 8, Sc she was gone to the Hott-Well. Mr. Arthur Chichester, Sc I went thither after her; And we saw the Great New-built Room for Dancing there. I drank 2 Glasses of the Water. We return’d Sc went to the Cathedral-Church. . . . About 4 I came away, Mr. Chichester Sc Dinglestedt walk’d with me to the Ferry by Queen’s-square. I came over there, & my Servant waited with my Horses at the Glass-House in Bedminster, where I call’d Sc bespoke some Glasses. I got home by 10. 23 I writ to Mr. Christopher Perry in London, & sent him a Note to demand my Midsummer Dividend at the South Sea House. .13 My Wife & her Maid Molley Mitchell were carried in my Calesh, & I rode on Horseback, to Visit my Son at Sherborn-School. We went out Half an hour past 9, & were at Ansford-Inn by 1: There we Dined, & stay’d ’till past 3: Then we went on, & call’d at Henry Bulls at Yarlington; But did not alight. We came to the Crown in Sherborn at 7. Molley Mitchell immediately went for my Son, & he instantly came & Supp’d with us. . . . We Lodg’d at the Crown, & our Landlord, Mr. Taylor, was with us at Supper; but he had drank a little too much. 16 I came away, after 11, from Lydlinch; My Mother having deliverd to me—30L intending it toward defray¬ ing the Expense of her Funeral. She desir’d me to open her Will which she had made in April last; & would have a new one made: For that she had given Will Goddard 10L, Sc she would give him only 5 L: Because he had no Child; And that she heard he intended to give what he had to Mr. Clark’s Son. She would also strike out her Legcie to Mary Tucker, she being then her Servant jointly with Mrs. Gillingham, but since had not behav’d her self well to her. I call’d at Capt. Nat: Farewell’s; But he was a Wooing at Mr. Coker’s House. 23 Visited Mr. John Dickison, at Somerton. Mr. Bragge

93 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

being with other Gentlemen at the Red-Lion, just going to King’s-Moor to see the Race, saw Will Clark who was with me (my Servant being at Sherborne to fetch my Wife home thence in my Calesh) & he came to the George to me, Sc we drank a Bottle of October- Beer. Sept. 8 I put up some of the Pictures which had been cleans’d, Sc vernish’d by Mr. Hodges (an Exeter-Japanner) who came about this Country to cleans Pictures. 13 I was at a Consort in Close-Hall, for the Accom¬ panying Mr. Tomson the Organist of Salisbury, who open’d the Organ in St. Cutbert’s Church for Mr. Swarsbrick who had alterd it Sc improv’d it by adding a Trumpet Sc Cornet, Stopps. Oct. 12 Mr. Harington, his Brother Edward, Sc I went to Chedder Cliffs: And after they had seen them, we went up through them which by the falling down of much of the Stones from them, had renderd the Way almost impassable: We turnd into the Bottom on the Right Hand towards Wells Sc went some way in it; But find¬ ing it also much incumberd with Stones, we led our Horses up a very Steep way on the Left Hand out of the Bottom, Sc with much difficulty got up to a very high part of the Hill, Sc then we struck into the way from Shackley-Wood, Sc came home over the Hill to the Deer-Leap. Nov. 12 Visited Mr. Hyppesley of Stone-Easton. Dined there. I returnd home before 7, Sc went (by Mr. Hamilton’s desire) to see a Play call’d the Yeoman of Kent, Acted by Lewis’s Company at the Crown. 27 I set out, about 9 a clock, in a Journey to visit My Lady Davie at Sr George Chudley’s at Ashton 7 Miles beyond Exeter. I call’d at Mr. Francis’s at Bridgwater, Sc pay’d him what I ow’d him for the Bottles in which I had White Lisbon Wine from him about half a Year ago. I bespoke more White-Wine of him; But did not alight. I came to the Fountain in Taunton after 6 a clock. Sc Lodg’d there. Mr. Brown keeps that Inn; And I lodg’d there. 30 I prescribed: And went at Dinner-time, from Sr George Chudley’s; And Lodg’d again at the Half-Moon at

94 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS' DIARY

Exeter. I sent for Mr. Kingmill my Lady Davie’s Apothecary, gave him my Prescription, & signified to him my Instructions about my Lady Davie. Dec. 25 I receiv’d the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Dr. Layng administred the Bread, & Dr. Archer the Wine. 31 Visited Mrs. Elizabeth Tottenham, Mr. Nicholls, & Mrs. Wrottesley. Just as I was going to take Elorse for Kelston, & Mr. John Taylor was come to go with me. My Lady Phelips, Servant came, to have me go to Mrs. Edith who was very Sick. He pressing me very earnestly I went with him to Montacute, where I lodg’d.

1723 Jan. 1 I prescribed for Mrs. Edith Phelips; And I went away from Montacute before Dinner, & a little before 2 a clock. I went to Yeovilton to Mr. Woodford’s.1 8 I continued at Kelston, Play’d Tables. After Dinner we had a Consort, & play’d 9 of Valentini’s Concertoes. Feb. 8 I set out to see what was done at my Farm at Ebdon, in Trenching &c before 7; As soon as I was gone beyond the Enclosures at Deer-Leap, there being a very thick Fogg on Mendip I miss’d my way &c instead of going towards Shackly-wood, I went to Priddey: Then I took my way through Charterhouse. I gave half a Crown to my Tenant Chappel’s Man-Servant, to cut down the Posts of the Gate Wm Cook had set up in Strode-lane, in prejudice to the communication by that Lane of my Grounds at Salthams with the home Grounds. 10 Mr. Lucas & I visited Mrs. Anne Star at Mr. Cuppers. I persuaded Mr. Lucas to push his Probe hard into the Place made for a Seton in Mrs. Star’s highly swoln knee, & it luckily broke into the Pelvis where the Abscess had long lain. To-morrow, I advis’d the making a larger vent for it. I read to my Family in the Lively Oracles. 11 I visited Mrs. Anne Star at Mr. Cupper’s. I had Mr Lucas with me & he, by an Incision, dilated the orifice

1 Mr. Woodford was the great uncle of the Rev. J. Woodford, whose diary (1758-1802) has recently been published.

95 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

of the Impostumation in her Knee, and let out a pint of Pus Sc Ichorus Matter. Feb. 13 I went to the Toy-Man, now (from Bristow-Fair) at the Christopher, Sc bought a pretty Snuff-Box, for Travel- ling; 25 Mr Lucas Let me Blood to 16 ounces, in my Left Arm. Mar. 6 Tom Pippin brought James Perry before Mr Keen on his warrant for not going to Service, but living Idly at West-Bradley. He Promis’d he would get a Service by our Lady-day next; And allow’d him to that time. 26 After Dinner Mr Lucas Sc I went in my Calesh to the Funeral of Mr Edward Strode of Ham, who was Bury’d at Pilton. Apr. 1 After Dinner I went by Mr Hill’s request to Mrs. Strode at Ham, Sc propos’d to her his making his Address to her for a Match.% 4 I continued at Mr. Harington’s, Sc we perform’d a great deal of excellent Italian Musick. 5 Mrs. Harington Sc the Family at Kelston lock’d from me my Splatter-dashes, and made me stay there this day also. We perform’d Concertoes Sc much vocal Musick, exactly well. 19 I bought some Holland of Mr. Smith (now Sheriff of Bristow) for 6 Shirts; 20 After Dinner Mrs Austin brought the 20s Capt: Keen awarded for Trespassing my Grounds call’d Morris Hayes, Taking away a Heifer once, Sc Horse another time, from my Tenant’s Son Sc Daughter, when they were getting them to the Pownd, Sc Assaulting Sc throwing one of them into a Ditch; Sc many Sc con¬ stant Trespassing. John Chasey came, Sc I ordered him to manage those Grounds Sc take in Justments, and for his Trouble he required, 50L. 22 I made my Tooth Brush.

1 This is not the only occasion on which Morris acted as go-between. He performed the same office for his friend Keen, after he had lost his first wife. Mrs. Strode’s husband had apparently only been dead a week. 96 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

May i I went with Mr Lucas, layd open Mrs Star’s Knee, who died yesterday in the Afternoon.1 2 Mrs Evans came in the Exeter Coach, from Bath.2 9 I went to Lydlinch to visit my Mother, I being inform’d that by a decay in her Strength, by the impressions of 91 years, she had for these three months been confin’d to her Chamber. 13 Being invited by Mr. George Mattocks to his Lodgings after paying him the Wager I lost him on Mr Hamilton’s & Mr Pear’s Petition in the House of Commons, for their right of Election, And Mr. Comes paying him also; I went: & I stay’d till past 10. 16 I finished the putting on the Spurrs & Barrs of my jack Splatter-dashes. After Dinner I went to Puridge to see the Masons work on the Stew-Pond, & on the North- End of the Brew-House. I saw my New planted Wood at Ring-Well. 31 My Son was all this day extremely tormented with the Tooth-Ach; which hinder’d his intended Visit to little Master Coxe. June 4 Last night I saw my Man George Champion Hugging & Kissing My Wife’s Maid Molley Mitchell. 14 Being this day determin’d to Draw my Fish-pond at Puridge I sent early thither a large Leg of Mutton: & Ten penny worth of Colliflowers & Cabbage & a Piece of Ruff’d-Beef which was boyld yesterday; a large Loaf of Bread, a Cheese, Mustard, Vinegar, Salt, Butter; a little Sauce-Pan, 2 Platters, a Dozen of Trencher Plates; a Dozen of Knives, & Forks to them; a Table- Cloth: 3 Dozen Quarts of Bottled October Beer; 12 Quarts of Barreld October Beer; 6 Quarts of Small Beer: 2 Gimlets, 6 Board-Nails; 6 Ten-Penny Nails; 6 Six-penny Nails; & a piece of small Cord to tye a Lead Quarter of an Hundred Weight which I also sent, to the Colander for the Tamkin Hole. Will Clark yesterday &

1 This is the only suggestion of a Postmortem examination in the Diary. 2 Only 3 coaches were running regularly at that time in England and this is almost the only entry which suggests that there was a regular service. G 97 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

today Carryd in Hampiers these Things. Molley Mitchell went to dress the Mutton, in the Morning betwixt 7 & 8 a clock: At the same time, I, my Son, James Keins & my servant George Champion, went also to Puridge. About Half an Hour past 9, John Johnson my Mason, & Ralph King his Partner, Tom Harvey, & John Nurse (being at work about the Gouts & Brew-House) drew up the Tamkin; And the Pond ran out, in about 2 hours. . . . About 2 we went to Dinner. I sent Will Clark home, with 12 Brace of small Carps, to Mr. Slade, for Colonel Brydes at Stoke-GifFord & 3 Brace of Middling ones to be eaten at home. I put all the Rest, being about 190, into the Stew-Pond & into the Horse-Pond. We came home after 9. July 30 Burgess, my Coach-Mare died. I went to Major Comes to put him in mind of joining with me in the Execution of the Act for raising 10000L in the Papists. Aug. 1 I went to the Bull’s Head to meet the other Commis¬ sioners whom I had desir’d to join with me to issue out Precepts to the Constables of Wells-Forum & Glaston 12 Hides Hundred to Bring in an Account of the Papists, Lands & Estates; It being the first of our Meetings. 2 I writ a letter (the first I ever sent) to my Son, I having received one from him at Sherborne School. 4 To Church. Mr Markwick Preach’d, Of Our Re¬ deemer’s Attonement, & Satisfaction for the Sin of Man, by offering his Soul a Sacrifice for our Reconcilia¬ tion to his offended Father Which would have been enough for purchasing Salvation for the whole World: But he had only chosen some for himself, & some he had left to his Father, none of which would be saved but such as he had foreknown, & fore‘dain’d to eternal Happiness. But, if this was true Mr. Markwick’s Preaching would be (if never so much attended to) impertinent & insignificant: For some must be Damn’d for the rest; And the Suffering of Our Lord (who yet desires everyone to come unto him) might have been omitted. 13 I visited Mrs Dare, & afterwards she came to my Lodging (while I was at Supper) & Desir’d me to 98 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

Advise for her son who had been long under Dr German’s Care for a Rheumatism. I persuaded her not to leave his old Physician who was near him: But she would not be satisfied without my going to see him, & I verbally directed the Dr to give him first the Vitriolick Vomit; Then Antimonial Medicines, Purging him frequently & gently with Alford Water; And after¬ wards to entertain and strengthen him with Calybate.1 Aug. 2 2 Mr Lucas & Mr Pye of Bristow came, and desir’d me to see the Operation, being to take out a Stone from a Young Fellow by the new Method of Cutting throw the Belly; which I did. Afterwards I went (with many spectators) to Mr. Lucas’s & Prescrib’d for the Patient.2 26 My Wife, Mr Burland, his Wife, I myself, with 2 Men-Servants, & a Maid-Servant, went (with my Calash) to Mr Woodfords at Yeovilton, in our way to Sherborn to visit my Son at School there. We stopp’d some time at the Camp in Southover: above an howr at Glastonbury to have the Iron that bears the Coach¬ man’s Seat mended. We went the Moor-way by Butleigh, & came -to Mr Woodfords before 4. Mr Cook, his Wife, his Son-in-Law, & 3 Daughters were there.3 Sept. 10 I was at our Musick-Meeting, & General Evans’s Hoboys were there & enter’d Clubbers. 20 I fitted the strings for my new-contriv’d manner of Drawing & undrawing the curtains of the Window in my Dressing-Room. I plac’d the Bottles in the 4th & 7th Nests of the Great Cage. 26 I went about 12 a clock to Bath to hear Signiora

1 Alford, about two miles from Castle Cary, had quite a reputation for its spring and was much frequented in the eighteenth century. 2 In 1724 Mr. Pye, Surgeon of Bristol, published a small book, “Some Observations on the Several Methods of Lithotomy,” advocat¬ ing the use of the supra-pubic method now universal. The operation actually mentioned in the text is described on page 21. Though success¬ ful at the time, it was too late to save the patient. 3 An interesting example of the hospitality of the times. Thirteen extra people were apparently accommodated in this country parsonage, probably sleeping two in a bed.

99 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Corzzoni sing; But she was gone to London. The Bristow Gentlemen were gone to Bath in the Morning: I found them at the 3 Tunns, & Drank with them, & Jo Priest. I visited Mrs Wrottesley at the Abbey, & Dr Hunt at his House. I met with Mr Burland just come from the Race at Clarken-Down. Oct. 14 I went to Mr George Mattocks, & carry’d my Mothers Will, for him to alter it according to her Directions to me; And to make it into a Deed. He knew not how to appoint Legacies by a Deed; And I told him he might make the Payment of them the Consideration & Condi¬ tions of it. 15 I got up to let in Amey Rogers with 4 Gallons & 6 Pints & ^ of French White-Wine.1 16 I went with M . George Mattocks to my Mother at Mr Gillingham’s. And after some Scruples my Mother executed a Deed to fix & confirm her Will which some¬ time ago was drawn by Mr Nicholas. 20 Mr Burland, & my Daughter came to celebrate my Son’s Birthday.2 To Church, & the Dean of Gernsey Preach’d. 31 I went to Meet Henry Bull, in Morris-Hayes. . . . James Whitehead came to me, and then Wm Lister & his 2 Sons & I order’d them to Cleans the Ditches for which I would give them 2d. a rope, & to dig an Eye- Ditch (which they say’d they would do for 3 d a Rope) in the inside of all my Hedges. Nov. 1 I call’d on Mr. Burland, & we went down (at 10 a clock) to the Assize-Hall, to Sit on the Commission of the Sewers; . . . After 2 we came to the Hall, & receiv’d the Presentments of 7 Juries; & heard several Complaints. The Court broke up about 6. 5 Mr Chancellour Brydges & I went & met Mr Berkeley & Mr Wills (as was agreed on Friday last at the Sessions of the Sewers at Wells) in Kennard-Moor to view the Place where the River every Floud comes in and drowns it. The Jury for that View met us: And we there resolv’d a Cly to be set up, & that the Proprietors

1 This and other entries evidently imply that the liquor was smuggled. 2 His fourteenth birthday.

100 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

of Munkey-Meadow, Sc the Commoners of the Moor should bear the Charge of it; Which should be collet [collected], Sc brought in in gross by each Parish that had right there, in proportion to the Number of the Commons claim’d. (Which by a Parchment brought by one of the Jury, & then read some of it by Mr Berkeley, were in 1644, 39 in West-Bradley.) We view’d the Water-Course betwixt Kennard-Moor Sc Black-Acre, Sc determined that Mr Horner should for the future be at the whole Charge of Diging and Cleansing it, which at last he was contented to do. Austin’s Reen was new digg’d, but not deep enough. Mr Chancellour Bridges & I return’d home through Glastonbury, Mr Nicholls accompanying us from Kennard-Moor, Sc we went and saw Mr Nicholls’s Engine to throw the Water into all the Ditches of Common-Moor, Sc he set it a working on purpose for us. Mr Wm Hopkins came thither to us, Sc brought us a Bottle of a kind of Citron-Water. Nov. 19 I made an end of calculating the Machine to be fix’d to my Calash to Count the Revolutions of the Wheel, Sc consequently the Miles travelled.1 Dec. 1 At home. Mr Lucas let 02 xvi of Blood out of my Right Arm. He did not open the Cephalick Vein the first Cut, nor very well the second; I had a third by mine own desire; But the Orifice was still too small. 14 My Son, with Mr George Sc Mr Tommey Farewell, came home form Sherborn School, in my Calesh, Sc on my Daughter’s Horse, to keep their Christmass. We had just Dined, & a Dinner was provided for them. 23 I writt to Mr Christopher Perry, Sc sent Notes to Authorize him to receive my Dividend from the South- Sea Accomptant, for last Christmass, last Midsummer, Sc for this Christmass. 29 I was call’d up to visit Mrs Whitechurch of Froom; But could not go being much out of order by a Cold. I receiv’d the Holy Eucharist from Mr Healy at St. Cuthbert’s Church; afterwards had a Testimonial

1 The mechanism was the same as that of the “perambulator” and anticipates the modern taximeter, it was in use as early as 1657. THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

from the Minister, Sc Church-Warden, attested by the 2 Serjeants, of my doing so having lately Acted in Commission of the Sewers. Dec. 31 We supp'd at Mr Lesseys, & I with my Daughter Play’d two Games at Whisk1 Sc we won them both.

1724 Jan. 7 Mr Burland, Sc I went to Stone-Easton, Sc were two of the 8 Pall-Bearers at the Funeral of Preston Hyppesley Esqe, the rest were Serjeant Earl, Mr Long, Mr Mogg, Mr Helliar, Mr Prater, Sc Mr Beaumont. We calld by the way at young Mr Mogg’s to visit his Child. We were at Stone-Easton before 12: But the Burial was not over ’till half an Hour past 4 a clock. 15 I call’d at Mr Burlands, & he & I went to the Sessions in the Assize-Hall, for the County, Sc Serjeant Earl (being Chair-Man) & Mr Comes being on the Bench, We, Sc Mr Chancellour Brydges deliverd in to the Court our several Certificates of our having Receiv’d the Holy Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, Sc Took the 3 Oathes, Sc Subscrib’d the Test. 16 I went down to the Sessions-Hall, & talk’d with Sergeant Earl, Mr Long, and other Justices, about the Failure made in 9 Hundreds towards Bath., in Sending in the Account of the Papists, Lands for Raising their proportion of 10000L layd on them by an Act of Parliament made in the Spring. 20 I had my Son to Sherborn to Mr Wilding’s School again, together with Mr George Farewell Sc his Brother Tom. All three rode in my Calesh, Sc say’d they had room enough. 22 After my Son Sc the two Farewells, Sc Mr Barwick Fox had taken a Breakfast on a Dish of Steaks with me, I came away about 10 from Sherborn, in my Calesh. I baited at Ansford-Inn; Sc being earnestly desir’d to Visit Eliz; Horsey in a very high Child-bed Fever, I did so; Sc directed the management of her. 28 James Whitehead came to tell me he Sc the Tithing- Man of the West Tithing of West-Bradley had seiz’d

1 Le. Whist.

102 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

by mine & two other Commissioners, Warrant, John Gardener’s Cattle for not paying the 2 Quarters of the Land Tax which he had collected, in to the Receiver. I sign’d a Testimonial of Francis Dandette’s fitness for being an Organist, both for his Skill & Morals. Jan. 30 A Fasting-day.1 Went to Church. Dr. Archer Preach’d a silly Sermon very confidently. Feb. 28 Mr Burland gave me a Bridge for my Bass Violin which he made on purpose: They all supp’d on Sturgeon. 29 Mr Spittle & I Play’d some of Zarrey’s Sonatas. Mar. 2 Mr. Perry came. After Supper I told Mr Perry what Mrs Layng came yesterday to request me to say to him, That she would have him either to Marry her Daughter Catharine or not keep her Company. He was not well pleas’d; But said he would do neither. And if ever he Married her Daughter her Father should give her to him. If her Father was Dead he would marry her if she had not Fifty Pounds; But he would never take his Daughter from him without his Consent. That if Mrs Layng had not wheedled him, he should never have had anything to say to her Daughter after his Uncle Nat: Farewell had ask’d Dr Layng’s Consent; And he would Write to him, & acquaint him with all her transactions. 5 I went about 10 a clock to Sherborn to be fully in¬ form’d, whether the Report of Mr Wildings excessive Severity to my Son under his Instructions, was true. I found he had been often Whipt since Christmass, but not above three Lashes; Not 14 at a time as he was before I had desir’d him to be more Moderate in his Discipline. Mr Wilding shew’d me, his Exercises in one of which there were 30 Literal Faultes; but none of false Concord or very improper Words. He read about 10 lines of English, and made him piece by piece turn them into Latine off hand; Which he did very well. He then Examined him, in Latine, & Greek, being late put into the Greek Testament; He made him Decline a Greek Verb, conjugate it through all the Moods, & give Account [of] the Character]istics, & Variations which he did exactly, to the greatest Satisfaction to me

1 Fast for the death of King Charles I.

103 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

imaginable. At last Mr Wilding said, He would Com¬ pare him with any Boy in England of his standing, & did not doubt but he should make him an incomparable Scholar, & the best that ever went from his School. He loved him heartily: For he had no Fault but one, & that was he would not take Pains, which he endeavourd by his often Whipping him to break him of, & he had almost compass’d his desire. If he would but search his Dictionary, they should never fall out. Mr Wilding then bid him go out a little while & divert himself, & he would call him in again. Then he shew’d me Mrs Prowses Letter which he just then received, & as he thought by my Servant, wherein she told him of my Wife’s great Concernment & Tenderness for her Son, & what a Noise his Usage of him had made; & that her Friendship for Mr Wilding had occasion’d her Writing to him. He profess’d to me. He had not given him above three Lashes at a time since I talk’d with him about it: He said also I should tell his Mother he would Whip him no more. I answered him, then all would be spoil’d that way: No. I did not desire that; But only moderate Correction, which to him a Good-Natured & Flexible, though Lazy, Boy I hoped would be effectual. I desired also he would keep him in the School at Playtime when the other Boys were at Liberty. He said that would [be] no manner of Punishment to him; For he would sit in his Chamber by himself many hours together. How¬ ever, I answer’d it might be grievous to him when he was forc’d to do so. As it was to the Old Citizen (in King James ist days) who had never been out of the Street where he lived in 50 Years. But when the King was told of this old Man, & Confined him to the same street, he had so great a Desire for Liberty that he pined away to Death with Grief & Inpatience for his Restraint. Mar. 8 Sunday. Went to afternoon Church. No Sermon. I read to my Family in the Whole Duty of Man. 9 I went to Mr York’s about the Proportion of the Papist’s Tax lay’d on the 3 Hundreds of the Devision where I have Acted as a Commissioner, & found it in Wells Forum—53L, 8s - 9d; in Glaston 12 Hides— 5L - 4s - od; & in Whits tone Hundred—4L - 5 s - id.

104 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

My Lord Waldegrave for Wendsley Manour being registered at—14L - is - 6d a Year, for which 3L - 6s - 4d was charg’d is to be certified, Sc discharg’d. Mar. 10 Weather: Some Sun, some clouds, and in the Evening a terrible Wind so that the Lead of my Porch was all blown up against the Tiles of the House. 20 I went to West-Bradley to Measure the Out Ditches, Sc Yee-Ditches in Morris-Hayes, which I did. I came with the Lesters, my 3 workmen, to the Inn, to com¬ pute the charge of their Work, & while I was doing [so] Will Clark came thither being sent by my Wife to tell me a Messenger had brought the account of my Mother’s Death in the 92 year of her Age. 21 I went in my Calash to Lydlinch: I went by Charlton; Sc at Brownsey the Horses were bemir’d so that one of them could not stand to draw; And I was forc’d to send to my Cousin Gillingham’s for his Oxen to pull the Calesh out: And it was past 10 a clock before I got to his House, where I lodg’d. 22 I sent my Servant George Champion to Blandford to get a Herse to Carry my Mother to Manston. I went to Manston, & Mr. Burland’s Man went with me, to desire leave from Mr Grove the Minister, to Bury my Mother in the Chancel by my Father. 24 The Coffin was Nail’d down, Sc finish’d. The Com¬ pany being invited by 10 a clock, at that time they began to come, & a little after 12—We went out with the Herse, the Company having Eaten of a very large cold Rib of Beef, & of a Gammon of Bacon & Fowles. Mr Claver lent me a Horse, & borrow’d for me Gam¬ badoes.1 Mr Coombs of Lydlinch read the Funeral Service, Sc my Mother was Buried on the Right Hand of my Father in a vacant place next the South Wall of the Communion-Table, betwixt 2 & 3 a clock. I gave some Gloves to those that remain’d in the Parish of my Mother’s Acquaintance Sc we return’d to Lydlinch. I invited those of the Pall-Bearers, that came back to Lydlinch, & some others that were with us to go in to

1 Gaiters for riding. io5 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Mr Gillingham’s to Drink a Glass of Wine, & they stay’d ’till near 8 a clock. Apr. 3 Good-Friday. Went to Church. Mr Johnson Preach’d. I neither Eat nor Drank, nor so much as took any Snuff at all, ’till past 7, in the Evening. 6 I went to West-Bradley to inspect the Parish Accounts, It being Easter Monday. I stay’d ’till 5 a clock, & cast up both the Church & Poor Rates. The Reckoning for Cakes was 2s, and for Drink which was good Sider at 4d a quart, was just 18 Quarts—6s=8s, 11 In the Evening I had the first Meeting which the Honourable Mr Hamilton had proposed for a Weekly Society, at my House; Where were Mr Hamilton, Major Comes, Mr Burland, Mr Lucas, & Mr Swarsbrick: They stay’d till 12.1 14 I went to the Charity-School, & Mr Chancellour Brydges & Mr Hodges made up their Accounts. I suggested the Inconveniency of Apprenticing any of the Boys, unless Lame ones: Because it multiplied too much Artificers & brought them to the Army or Gallows, & abated the number of Husband-men which were wanted in this Kingdom; Injurd the Persons of Small Estates, by rendering it insignificant to their Children to place them to Handycrafts, & so press’d down the middle or inferiour People below the very Scum of the Kingdom. 16 I went with my Son, & Mr George Farewell to Sher- born. We call’d at Mr Newman’s at North-Cadbury, & Eate there. Mr Newman was at a Cock-Match in Somerton. 29 Mr Nooth came to me, we intending to go to Mr Harington’s at Kelston; & Half an Hour past 3 we set out in our Journey. Mr Nooth prevail’d with me to go by Timsbury, which odious uneven Road delay’d us so much that ’twas past 9 before we came to Causon: By that time then we could come to the Ford above Kelston which we intended to pass through, ’twas so dark that we could not see the other side of the River,

1 This was one of the small social Clubs which had been formed in Wells at various times, and lasted until Morris’s death.

106 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

or what ground we were to take. So we went through Bath, Sc came to Kelston at a quarter after n where Mr Harington & many besides the Family were at Supper. . . . We Lodg’d at Kelston. I had the New- Wainscotted Chamber over against the Ape’s-Room. 1 We continued at Kelston. Went to Church. We mix’d again in a Grand Consort; Sc after 2 of Valentini’s Concertos, we perform’d very justly Hendel’s Oritorio, & some of his Anthems. After dinner I play’d Tables with Mrs Harington. 2 Mr John Taylor, Mr Nooth, Sc I came from Kelston before 9 a clock. We pass’d over the River at the Ford above mentioned. But going in the old way making a Bow in the River, toward Kelston, the Water came up to the Shoulders of the Horses, & we were all wet in our Feet Sc Leggs. When we were over we lookd back Sc saw that there was a new Stoning streight across the River, Sc my Man Will Clark rode in again over it, Sc there the Water came up no higher than the Belly of his Horse. 9 Sat as a Commissioner for the Land Tax at the King’s Arms & signed Warrants. 11 I cut out Cravats Sc Necks, for Molley Champion to make up. The total Eclipse of the Sun being betwixt 6 & 7 a clock, the Honourable Mr Hamilton, Sc Mr Keen, came. Sc we went to the Top of mine House to see it: But the Clouds hinder’d us. It became, when it began to be dark, very quickly so, that Mr Keen could not on his Watch see what was a clock; Sc it continued so for 3 or 4 Minutes, and then it as suddenly grew Light again. Mr Hamilton stay’d afterwards. Sc admir’d the Prospect from my House: 18 Roger Lambert came to me for Directions in Making a Rate on the Liberty for the 2s Pound Tax he being one of the Assessours, And Dr Archer having charged him not to rate him here for his Arch-deaconry; And deliver’d him a Certificate from 3 Commissioners in the Division of Taunton that he was Assess’d for it there at 18L a Year. I advis’d him (by the Act of Parliament) that he should Rate that Arch-Deaconry, in the Liberty where it had been charg’d in 1693; Sc ever since the

io7 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Revolution: And I would justifie his practice in it. I told him also he should not lessen the Sum he pay’d the last Year: But he would do well to encrease it by abating the Arch-Deaconry of Bath. . . . May 19 I put the Bottles of the best old Hogshead into the Bottle-Cage in the 1 & 2d Nest. I was at our Musick- Meeting. 20 I went with my Son Sc Mr George Farewell, to Bristow. We went by East Harptrey Sc Chew-Magna; And lodg’d at Mr Salmon’s at the Guilder’s Inn in High- street. 21 I went about Bristow to Buy such Things as I wanted there. I had Mr Walkeley to eat a Dish of Steaks with me, Sc about 2 a Clock, we went to Bath; whither we came by 5. We Din’d Sc Lodg’d at Mr Robinson’s at the 3 Tuns. 22 Then we went to the Grove, & Mr Broad got Mr Grano to Entertain me with his Trumpet, German- Flute, & Small Flute in the New Dining-Room at the Three Tunns. They Din’d with me; Sc about 5 I came away from Bath, & came home after 9. 23 I sate with other Commissioners for the Land-Tax at the Kings-Arms, & confirm’d the Rates. . . . 24 Whit Sunday. I received the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. Dr. Strachan preached. June 6 I went to the Kings Arms Sc met Mr Comes & Mr Matthew Bacon to set right if possible the Glaston¬ bury Land-Tax rate. But the Assessors were obstinate. Mr Comes Sc I went to our Weekly Meeting at Mr. Lucas’s where all the Society in Town, Sc Mr. Laurence Coward were. 10 I went with Mr George Farewell Sc my Son to Sher- born; Their Whitson Vacation being ended. We Drank at Ansford Inn on Horsback; Sc at Henry Bull’s; And got to Sherborn 6 hours Sc a quarter. I lodg’d, as usually at the Crown. 13 I went to our Weekly Meeting which was at Mr Hamilton’s; Mr Ekin was there. I play’d with the Ladys 3 or 4 Games at Nine-Pins. 19 Visited Mrs. Goodford at Yeovil; Her Brother Mr,

108 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

Wadden (a Surgeon of Dorchester) going with me, I prescribed Sc Dined. 4 Signior Francischelle, Sc Viocca, Two Italian Musicians came, I went with them to see the Cathedral-Church. We had a Consort. 7 I went to Mr Lyde’s at Chelwood, Sc talk’d to him Sc his Daughter Bettey about Mr Strachey’s being Married to a Woman in London still living, before he was Married to Colonel Henley’s Daughter (as I writ Young Mr Henley I would do;) But I found, though they believ’d it was so, they could not make it evident. They sayd, that before he was married to Mrs Henley, there was a Young Woman who, with her Mother, came from London to Mr Strachey’s at Sutton-Court, and say’d She was his Wife: But he deny’d it. 9 All our Musick-Clubb Assisted in Performing Signior Viocca’s Serenade, Sc some other of his Compositions: For which there were rais’d for the Italians about 3L - 14s - 00; The Audience paying for each Ticket 2s - 6d; And just 32 were deliver’d Sc used. 10 My Daughter Burland was deliver’d of a Son, at Half an hour past 10 in the Forenoon. 13 Mr Lucas Let me Blood, Sc by my desire took more than 16 ounces from my Left Arm. For I was extremely tortured with Rheumatick Pains in my Right Shoulder, Arm, Sc from my Head to the lower end of the Shoulder blade. My Blood was Sizey Sc very Serouse: Quite contrary to what it has used to be. I sent my Son at Sherborn School a Letter with a Box in which was the Violin of Mr Brodrip’s, on which he learn’d at Whitsontide. 23 My Wife, & Mrs Evans, went in my Calesh to visit Mrs Coxe at Stone-Easton. George Champion drove the Calesh, Sc I rode with them. 26 I pay’d Mr Lucas the Difference of the Blank Ticket in the last Year’s Lottery which was sold for—7L - 8s, from what was bought for me now at—10L - 19s - o6d; which was—3L - ns - o6d. And my Number is— 12567. Mr Lucas’s Number is—12566. 27 I stood God-Father, with Mr Hill who represented the Plonourable George Hamilton Esqre, Sc Mrs Bettey

109 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Palmer who was the God-Mother, to Mr Burland’s Son John.1 July 29 A little before 2, I took Horse to Visit Mr Chancellour Brydges at Poulshot in Wiltshire. I went by Philips Norton, Farley, & Troubridge; Sc came thither at half an Houre past 8 or nearly 9. I lodg’d there. 30 Mr Chancellour Brydges, Sc I, went to the House where Charles Taylor’s Workman was washing Lead-dross, Sc I saw the Bees work in a Glass Hive. I dined at Mr Chancellour Brydges’s; Sc He went with me to see the Devises, 2 Miles from his House. I saw Sc walk’d over most part of the Town. Went into the Great Malt-House; went to the 2 very large Nursery Gardens near the Castle, saw Mr Isles’s Stables; Mr Wells, a Taylor, one of the Corporation shewing us all he thought worth seeing. I gave them a Pint of Red Wine, a Pint of Sider, Sc payd For the Standing of the Horses. 3i I came away from Poulshot at 11. I passed through Troubridge Sc took the way to Road, Sc came by Laverton, Buckland, Sc Mells; & I came home at 7. Which I found was the farther way, than that I went by Half an Hour’s Riding. I came home very much tired. Aug. 4 Dr Layng came Sc Play’d Tables. I was at our Musick- Meeting, where General Evans’s Hoboys Performing with us there was a very great Appearance of Company more than could sit at the Table Sc Round the Hall. So that a long Forme was brought in Sc Fill’d in the Middle of the Hall. The General, Colonel Brown Major Garey & most of the Officers were there; Sc many Women. 17 Visited Edgar a Dragoon at the Fountain, prescribed for him. Mr Mackalister came with a Complement from my Lord Conway, & his Desire that if either of his two Sons now at Sandiwell should happen to be Sick I would go to them; His Lordship having ordered I should be sent to.

1 This boy became the Rt. Honourable J. Burland, Baron of the Exchequer. no EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

Aug. 21 Beginning to make a rough draught of my Will. 26 I went to Sherborn, my Wife with Molley Champion going thither also to see my Son. It wanted a Quarter of Ten a clock when we set out; we call’d at Henry Bull’s by Mr. Player’s Sc Dined there, Sc stayd two hours & above half, Sc were at Sherborn before 7. We Supped Sc Lodg’d at the Crown. Sept. 1 I was call’d up at 4 to visit Mr Parsly (a Cornet of Dragoons in Major General Evans’s Regiment) at Mr Mills’s. 4 I cut out my Red Rocklow. 15 At 5 a clock I call’d up Mr Burland, then I sent my Servant to call up Mr Salmon, I call’d up Mr Hamilton Sc Major Comes, to go with me as Commissioners of the Sewers, to Meet Colonel Berkeley at Mr Godwins Mill-House, & view the River thence down to Basing- Bridge. Mr Comes would not go, Pretending he was not well. The others did. Colonel Berkeley was at the Place appointed; Sc we went to Mere, Sc over Westey Bridges, Sc so along the Moor by the River, Sc over Mark Steaning ’till we came to the yonder end of Marke-Moor: Then we went into the Corner of a Ground, Sc thence into another over a Rine which had formerly been a Water-Course, Sc had been lately left out of the View. Thence we went to Basing-Bridge, which having but iof - 2i ope, we judged to be too little by half to discharge the Water and we conclude to order it at our Session of Sewers to be made 10 Feet more. Then we went to Marke Inn, Sc Mr Nicholls, Sc some other Glastonbury-Men, some of Mere, of Mark, Sc other Places being with us we Eat cold Roast Beef Sc Mutton, had a Bowl of Punch: And Mr Nichols Sc the others would not suffer us to pay anything even for our Horses. Mr Long came thither to us. We return’d home about 6. And I went to our Musick- Meeting. 17 I had my 100 Gallons of Herefordshire Red-streak Sider. 18 I sent my Daughter 6 dozen Quart Bottles of the Red- streak Sider which I bought of Charles Taylor made in hi THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Herefordshire; & the rest of the Hogshead were then V put in the Wine-Cellar under the stairs. Nov.21 I upped to let Coggin of Somerton in about 4 a clock with one Anchor of (Brandy) which I bought of him which weight 87 lb, of which 14 lb was allowed for the Caske. He brought in also 3 Anchors more & left them in my Inner Cellar.1 28 Visited Mrs Randall of Cherriton, at Holebrook. Captn Nat: Farewell & his wife, two of the Mr Bowers of Yewern, & Mr Randall, & Mrs Logan were there. I Lodg’d at Holebrook. I playd Tables with Captain Farewell of Holebrook. Oct. 7 It being the day appointed for the Session of Sewers at Wells, I went at half an hour after Ten to the Assize- Hall: Mr Cockeril also press’d to have his Amercement in his Manour of Huntspill, of 5L which the Jury had after his Work being Presented at one Session; Re¬ turn’d at another, & order’d to be levied by another, remitted. . . we return’d to the Bench; Where Mr Cockerel applying himself to every Commissioner, earnestly strove for an order from the Court to Traverse the Indictment, & to try in the Sessions of Bridgewater of the Sewers whether the keeping the Rhines cleans’d belong’d to him or another; upbraided us with want of Justice; & declar’d that his Estate was in this County worth 10000L, and he had a better in another; And he would spend all he had in this County in the vindica¬ tion of his Injury. I with most of the other Commis¬ sioners Signed an Order for enlarging the wideness for the passing of the Water through Basing-Bridge 10 Feet more in breadth, & 2 Feet more in Depth. 30 John Bird fitted a Sprin[g]-Jack for my Harpsichord with the Addition I had contrived. . . . About 10 in the Morning [at] Mr Keen’s Desire I went into his House to see his Wife who was very Weak. He press’d her to have Medicines prescrib’d. She utterly refused it; And said it was to no purpose whilst he sunk her Strength so often by his Ill Usage of her. Then he

1 No doubt this was smuggled liquor, probably brought up from the Dorset coast. Brandy is shown by symbols.

112 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CL AVER MORRIS’ DIARY

urg’d her to tell in what; & both rose to a very high Passion: And at length desir’d to part from each other. He demanded of her 200L a Year: But she was willing only to allow him xooL, Affirming she was in Debt. At length I persuaded her to give him 150L: which, if he would relinquish all Claim to her Houshold Good, she agreed to do. From Michaelmass last This allowance was to commence; And the 30L (which was not yet pay’d him for his Half-Years Pocket-Money) usually advanced to him was to be part of it. An Instrument of this Agreement was to be suddenly made & executed by each. And after about 2 hours warm remonstrating & quarreling. Sc these Resolutions, I came away home. Nov. 12 I went to Glastonbury, to get a List of the Poor which had not any Allowance from the Parish; & especially of those who had any loss to them by Inclosing Common- Moor; That I might be guided in the Distribution of my 20L, which I resolv’d to give them. ... I went to the George, & sent for Old Mr Downes; And assured me. He & Mr Blake would send a Catalogue of their Names. I returnd home before 2; Dined, & went to Mr Hodges’s Funeral, & was one of the Pall- Bearers. Mrs Hamilton sending for me to Play Back- Gammon with her; And I went & did so: Mrs Anne Drew was there. 21 I Visited Mr John Comes at Brewton School, His Father & Mr. Taylor Senr his Apothecary, went with me. We Dined at the Unicorn. 23 It being the Day on which we celebrated St. Cecilia’s Memory, Mr Brodrip desired, for compensating the Pains he took in setting Dryden’s Ode on Alexander’s Feast, to Musick, I pay’d 2s - 6 for a Ticket for myself, & the same for one for my Wife, for Mrs Evans, Mrs Randall, & my Daughter. We had a Consort, & a good one, at Close-Hall. 27 Mr Pitt of Chard came, & pay’d me 3 8L of Wm Pierce’s Rent due at Our Lady-day, & I gave a Receipt for it: He would have had me accept a Goldsmiths Bill of London for 40L more. 28 I met Colonel Peirs (by his Desire) at Tom Parfitt’s H IX3 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

to Assist him in bargaining for Wainscotting his Parlor, & Little Parlor, & Wainscotting his Hall Chair High. Parfit & he at last Agreed to Wainscot & find the Deal & Paint, at 4d a Yard, with Deal; To make Arch’d Door-Cases & Doors, for 50s a piece; and to Floor Chambers with Clean Deal, & supply the Bords, Jests & all, at is a Foot. Dec. 6 I receiv’d a Letter from Mr Penny, the Receiver General, desiring a Cirtificate from the Commissioners of the Deficiencies, in the Hundred of Wells-Forum, in the late Tax on the Papists; otherwise he could not pass his Accounts: Though I thought what had been under our Hand Attested, when Mr Nooth pay’d him the Money arising in this Hundred, had been as full as anything could be in this Matter. I read to my Family in the Causes of the Decay of Christian Piety. 12 I sign’d the Duplicate of the Papist’s Tax sent to me from Mr Penny the Receiver General, to whom I sent Yesterday (by the Cross-Post) a Certificate of the Deficiencies in that Tax Sign’d by my self, Major Comes, & Mr Matthew Baron, & drawn by the Form he sent. 19 I writ out a List of the Poor of Glastonbury who were not Reliev’d by the Parish, which I sent by Mr Blake to Francis Clements, that he might give notice to every one of them I would on Tuesday next, be at the Rose & Crown in Glastonbury, & give amongst them Twenty pounds. 22 I went, on appointment, & had Ben Taylor with me to Glastonbury; where I gave & distributed amongst the Poor that had no Relief 20L. I was at our Musick- Meeting. 24 I writ a List of the Christmass Poor. I gave them Money as usually. I went to Mrs Keen’s Funeral. Mr Chancellour Brydges Buried her. 25 Mrs Evans & my Daughter & 15 others Dined. After dinner to Church. All the Company came again after the Church Service was over & we joind in a Consort of Musick. We perform’d Mr Brodrip’s Christmass-day Song, 2 of Valentini’s Concertos, 2 of Albinoni’s Concertos, & Bassani’s 1st Motette set to Mr Chrygh-

114 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

ton’s Words. Then they all Supped; & most stay’d ’till 12. Weather Sunny. But in the Evening Rain, Lightning, & a most turbulent Wind. Dec. 28 I made some Spiral Brass Wire, instead of Cypress, for my Standish Inke-Glass.

i725 Jan. 4 I went (being last night desir’d) before 11 to Mr Keen’s whither Mr Baron of New-Street came to me. He being pitch’d on as a Referee by Captain Gendrault; as I was by Mr Keen to adjust their Claims to the Goods Mrs Keen died possessed of. . . . We after much contrasting this matter, concluded to have Sergeant Earl’s Advice, after Mr Keen & Captain Gendrault had enter’d into Bonds of Award: And if Mr Baron & I could not come to agree in our Determi¬ nation, we should choose a Third Person whose appointment should be final. 6 I heard my Son Construe in the Greek Testament. . . . I went to Mr Cupper’s Shop, & his Wife gave me 2 Glasses of her Clove-Wine. 9 My young Elms were brought from Bristow. James Whitehead came & offer’d to pay the 5L I yielded to take for the great Mischief he did in Topping 39 Maiden Oaks. I order’d him to Pay Mr Goldfinch the Charge of the Law I commenced against him; Before his doing of which I told him I would not Receive this Money: Which he said he would do. 15 I pressed out the Juice of 60 Limons which I had from Bristow, & after it was strain’d through a Flannel Bag I mix’d with each Pint of it a Pottle of French Brandy and Bottled it. 22 I put to the Window Courtains in my Chamber my Invention of Brass Couplings to keep the Lines from wearing out. Feb. 8 I had my Hair Clipp’d. ... I put on the Spiens & Rodds of my new thin Jack’d Splatterdashes.1 15 A Meeting of the Commissioners for Glastonbury

1 Spiens means prongs—e.g. of a fork. THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Commons (of which Notice was Read in St. John Baptist’s Church, Jan: 31) being this day appointed at the Bull’s-Head in Wet-lane. . . . The Chief designe of this Meeting being to Pay Mr Wm Higgens for Measuring and Dividing the Commons, for which little more than a quarter of what had been promised him had been hitherto pay’d him. About 1 a clock we all went home to Dinner. At 3,1 went again to the Bull’s Head; And I sent for Mr Hamilton & Mr Goldfinch. And then we three Commissioners Sign’d a Rate. Feb. 18 Mr Lucas Let me Blood in the Right Arm. 24 I made me a Pound of each sort of my Snuff. Mar. 8 I put up my Coupled Curtain-Rings for drawing the Window Curtains in my Chamber Window. Mr. Prickman had a Consort of Musick at his House, & I was there, till 11. 11 Mr Tucker made me a Rasor of my fashion (with an Ivory Haft) & gave it to me. 17 I went to Dulcot, Mr Pain Senr having appointed a Meeting betwixt us at 3 a clock, about cutting the River by Alderley’s Close, streight. I went according to the Time Ext; & stay’d in Alderley’s Close above an hour: Then Mr. Pain came. And as I supposed before he was for Securing his own Ground from the washing of the River, but not mine: So we did not come to an Agreement in the Affair. I had Will Clark with me, with my Perambulator, & Measured the Way. From my Gate to the Gate over-right the Old Lime-Kiln on Tor-Hill, it was Half a Mile; Sc to the Middle of Dulcot Bridge it was 1 Mile & 31 Pearches. 18 I went at half an hour past 7 for Ebdon; I went by the Deer-Leap, Charter-House, Sc Banwell; I call’d on Mr Richard Starr, Sc he went with me. I visited Mrs Chappel at Wood-Spring. I return’d home by Cheddar at 9: In a little less than 5 hours. Weather a little cinder Snow, some Sunshine, some Clouds, Sc very cold wind. 24 Mr Keen came, & he & I play’d Tables & his luck in Throwing was so admirable Sc even beyond what was usual even with him that I told him, I thought I must resolve never to bring mine in any sort of competition with it (being so constant to him), any more; He com-

116 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

mitted many Over-sights & play’d often very wrong, Yet he won of me 5 s, without my turning so much as one Game. Fie Supped. . 1 My Wife being very like to Die, I sate up with her till 2. 3 I made a Decoction & Gargle for my Wife. I sate up with my poor Dying Wife. My Daughter, Mrs Drew, Rachel Teek, Sc Mrs Evans also sate up. 4 I made Decoctions for my Wife’s Drink. . . . My (Wife) who seem’d better in the Morning would be taken up, Sc sitting up 7 hours too long was very ill Sc light-Headed. Mr Keen came to talk about his going to Mrs Morgan to make his Addresses to her. I sate up again with my poor Wife all night, She labouring her last for Life, & Breathing with the most deplorable difficulty. 5 At 2 a clock in [the] morning my Servant Mary Rogers (who with Mrs Batty (my Butcher’s Wife) Sc Rachel Tike watch’d with my Wife, Mrs Evans also sitting up with them,) sent to call up my Daughter Bettey Bur- land, according to her earnest desire, Sc Mrs Anne Drew. Bettey immediately came. Sc being in the utmost Passion of Grief was like to faint at her coming into the kitchin: But she ran up the Stairs ; when she came where my Wife lay, she was in a great Agonie Sc cry’d out. Oh! my dear Mother I shall lose my best Friend! then she fell into a Swoon; & recovering from it, she said. Oh my Dear Brother! My poor Wife hearing it, in great concernment started up Sc ask’d. Is Willey Dead? (He being just recovering out of the Small Pox). I told her he was very well. But she was so affected with the distrust of it, that to satisfie her Fear I was fain to make him get on his Clothes, Sc come to her; And the sight of him seemd (even though delirious) to please her. Sc she looking upon him, being orderd by me to turn himself advantagiously to the Light of the Candle that she perfectly see his Face, said she never saw him look better in her Life. Then he kiss’d her. Sc return’d to his Bed. Mrs Anne Drew (being call’d by Mr Burlands Man-Servant,) came shortly after my Daughter; And both continued with my Dear Wife who from a Death Sweat grew in xiy THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

her Hands Sc Arms very cold, left speaking in two or 3 hours, & half an hour after Ten in the Forenoon she Breath[ed] her last. I sent to have Rings, Escutcheons, &c, made. In the Evening I sent for my Daughter Sc she came, Mr Lucas came, Sc then Mr Burland, Sc they Eat Bread & Cheese. . 6 Charles Taylor came to me about Wine for the Funeral. My Daughter, Sc Mrs Brown came also, with Silk for Mourning Scarfs & Hat-bands. They helped me in Making a List of those to be Invited to the Burial. . . . The Coffin was brought Sc the Burying Dress (which was very fine,) Sc the Body was put into the Coffin. 7 I sent Rachel Tick Sc Mrs Pitcher with the List to Invite above 140 to the Burial. Order’d Chairs to be borrowd, Sc prepard for the Mull’d Claret. 8 Busied in Mulling Red-Wine, Sc the Funeral of my Dear Wife. The Company I had sent to invite came. Mr Chancellour Bridges Officiated in Burying her. Mr. Hamilton Sc Mr Peirs; Mr Comes & Mr I. Keen, Mr Moss Sc Mr Prickman were Pall-Bearers. They after the Interment came with Mr Chancellour Brydges to my House (as is usual) Sc stayd near an Hour. Mr Keen shew’d so much Grief that he went by himself into the Pantry-Chamber, Sc wept very much. When the other Pall-bearers were gone, I went to him. Sc continued with him till near Ten. 11 My Son being recoverd from the Small-Pox came down Sc Dined in the Little Parlor. 14 I began about reducing the Lists I had gotten of the Poor into an Alphabetical Order, the more commo- diously to give them 200 Sixpenny Loaves tomorrow. 15 Betwixt 2 & 3 a clock Afternoon I began to distribute my 200 Loaves. 16 I had T. Parfit Sc his Apprentice Tom Notley to set up against my Porch the Atchievement.1 I dispos’d of the remainder of the Bread. I look’d over the Butcher’s, Grocer’s Sc Baker’s Bills, with the Assistance of Will Clark, Sc by him I pay’d them, though my Wifes Bills

I.e. his wife’s escutcheon with arms. 118 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

always mentiond the Buttchers & Grocer’s Bills as pay’d. They amounted to above 12L. 17 I went to the Mitre, to begin to Act in the Land-Tax of 2s in the Pound. And Major Comes, & Mr Matthew Baron, two other Commissioners met me there, & we took the Oathes, & Sign’d Warrants to the Constables of Wells-Forum, & Glastonbury 12 Hides. I was sick from a Cold contracted Thursday last, in sitting in my little Hall, with the Door open on me, while I was disposing 200 Six-penny Loaves to the Poor. I was forced to go to Bed at 9 a clock. 19 [From this Monday until the following Tuesday-week, 27 we read that “I was very sick of a Continued Tertian Fever.”] 12 A Court of the Commissioners of the Sewers was this day held at the Assize-Hall in Wells, particularly for levying the Expense of pulling down the Old Bridge call’d Basing Bridge, & Building a new one: Being one of the Commissioners, I Dined with the rest (The Honourable George Hamilton Esqre, Mr Gould, Mr Lony, Mr Comes, Mr Malet, Mr Salmon, Mr Wills, Mr Andrews) at the Mitre: Then we went to the Assize-Hall. [After many alterations it was decided to assess the lands below the Bridge which benefitted by the im¬ proved drainage.] A Sceth [Sketch] of an Instrument was drawn to charge the Lord or Proprietors of the Manour of Huntspill who used to repair that Bridge with 20L3 And that the mentiond lowLands should be brought to pay the rest, on this sudden Imergency, in Aid to the Huntspill Manour & Lands. 18 I made an end Writing my Will. 20 My Son went with Mr Hamilton, his wife, Mr Burland and my Daughter, to Binegar Fair. 25 Mr Hamilton came, & he & I play’d Tables; & then went to our Musick-Meeting, which had been by the Death of my Wife, & mine own Sickness, omitted for 10 Weeks. 26 Visited Mr Hamilton, he being to go tomorrow for London. I play’d with him & his Lady at Tables, &

119 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

supp’d there. Ben Taylor coming in Mr Hamilton, his Lady, Sc Ben Taylor, (I having my last Will with me, expecting I should find Company to wish him a good Journey,) set their Hands as Witnesses to my Will which I executed before them. June i I went with my Son to Sherborn. Mr Burland, & my Daughter, intending a visit to Mr Martin Sc his Wife, at East Pennard, accompanied us as far as Little Pen- nard. . . . My Sons Horse fell with him a little before he came to Sherborne; But by the Divine Favour, he had no Hurt. 3 I Dined by my self, being the first time I did so above these 20 Years. 6 I read to my Servants, in the Causes of the Decay of Christian Piety. 12 I had my Gold Seal Sc Coat of Arms cut in Carnelian, Cry’d in the Market. 19 A Dinner was made for the Plowmen who brought home this day 8 Wagon Loads of Hay from my East- Moor-Mead, & One Load Yesterday. 23 I was going to Ashcombe & Sadbury, Sc my Daughter came to wish me a good Journey. When I was gone to the Bull in South-over, seeing Sheep-Penns setting up there. And then remembering that tomorrow would be a Fair Sc expecting Rent would be brought me from Ebdon, I went to see my Hay in Moor-Meads Sc thence to Morris-Houses; Sc so to Bradley to see what about the Stall Sc Stable was out of Repair; & to order its being Mended. 29 I gave Mr. John Bragge Sc his Wife a Mourning Ring each for my Wife: And I also gave Mrs Bragge of Child- Hay a Ring. I went thence to Sadborrow Sc gave Mr Bragge, his Sister Sc Mrs Mary Drew Rings. July 5 To gratifie Mr Hamilton, I went to the George, Sc saw the Comedy of ‘Love for Love’ acted by Poor’s Com¬ pany. 20 Mrs Martin sent me, by my Servant Hannah Beal, a Basket of very large White Currents. 26 I lent my Calesh Sc Servant to carry Mr Burland, my Daughter, Sc Molley to Mr. Newman’s at Cadbury, to

120 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

stay some time while Jacky is weaning. I visited Mrs Martin of East Pennard. Aug. 2 By the desire of Mr Haynes for whose Benefit the Tragedy of Jane Shore was Acted, I was at that Play. 3 I was at Our Musick-Meeting; & carry’d the First Volume of Dr Croft’s Anthems to the Clubb. 13 I writ to Mr Oak & desir’d he would get the Shepton Cryer to Cry my Yee-Grass in my Moor-Meads. 31 I breakfasted, & came away from Sadborrow, about Noon, & my Horse having Sprain’d his Far-Foot be¬ hind, I only walk’d him from 2 Miles beyond South Petherton, quite home. I came home at a little past 9. Sept. 5 My briskly going Nagg which I bought of Mr Starr died, of a Gall of the Saddle; which suppurating, & being open’d, & the Matter beginning to be dis¬ charg’d, & stopped by an Ointment of Verdigrease by the Farrier Joyce (without my Consent or knowledge,) a Gangrene suddenly ensued, & in less than 24 hours kill’d him. 8 The Vicars Choral, Mr Franklin, & Mr Gravel, Princi¬ pals, Mr Broadway, Mr Nooth, Mr Nikels, Mr Boulting, & Mr Ford, seniors, & Mr Evans their Steward came, & brought the Lease of my Two Houses in Close-Hall executed. I executed its Counterpart, & payd the Fine, & Fees. 17 I Borrow’d of Mr Lucas to make up 80L to buy Oxen to eat my Yee-Grass in Moor Meads—30L, on my Note. . . . Mrs Edwards & my Daughter came & brought me a letter from my Son at Sherborn-School. 20 Being invited I went & assisted in a Consort of Musick had by Mr Cross at Mr Clynton’s; Where Mr Pain the Curate was very Disputacious in his Ideal way, Affirmed many Things out of the usual way, that there may be two Nothings, & the like. 21 Mr Keen being going to London tomorrow to Marry Mrs Rose Alsworth, came, & shew’d me two Letters he receiv’d from his Friend Mrs Mary Morgan, the Go-between.1

1 Keen had already been treating with two other ladies. His wife had only died in December.

121 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Sept. 26 I sent Will Clark to Bristow to Mr Brickdale for 5 Yards of Cloth for Second Mourning for my self & Son. 29 I carry’d Dr Creyghtons volume of 22 Sermons, to my Daughter who desird to read them. . . . Mr Bragge with 4 Servants came, & Lodg’d at my House. 30 Mr Bragge & Mr Burland Dined. We went to see the Painting of Mr Swarbrick’s Upright Harpsichord mix’d with an Organ.1 Mr Bragge, Mr Burland, my Daughter & Mrs Sarah Edwards play’d Suker at my House, & Supped, Mr Lucas came & Supp’d with them; they stay’d ’till past 11. Oct. 1 Mr Bragge, & his 3 Servants, & 8 Horses continued with me. 5 Mrs Lessey having (instead of a Purging Draught) drunk of the Essentia Pacifica 2 Drachms, at 7 a clock, Sent for me after 8. Prescribed, & relieved her from the Ill Effect of the Opium: At 11 a clock Mr Bragge, Mrs Sarah Edwards, & my Daughter, in Mr Braggs Chariot; Mr Burland, Mr Lucas, & I, on Horse-back, with Six Servants went to Bristow. ... We all Lodg’d at the Pellican (at Mr Rich Treasure’s House) in St. Thomas-street. 7 I went to speak to Mr Pattey the Stone-Carver in the old Market about Stone Vases for the Top of my House, & I talk’d with him about a Monument for my Wife, & for one he had already almost made he ask’d me 4o-£. I went & breakfasted at Mr Philipses at the Bridge-foot. I left with Mr Whitmore 16s to pay for 12 Gross of Corks. We came away from the Pellican at 12. I & Mr Lucas call’d & bespoke Glasses at Bedminster Glass-House. 9 Mr Bragge Dined. He & I play’d Tables. About 8, He & I went to Close-Hall, whither Mr Bathurst & Mr Long had brought Mr Whearing, & Mr Neal, & we had a Consort of Instrumental Musick. 21 I made two Leaden Plates, fitted them & Quick¬ silver’d them for the Ganglion on my Son’s Hand-wrist.

1 This seems to have been an anticipation of the “Vocation” invented by Mr Baillie Hamilton about 1880.

122 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

Oct. 22 I sent away my Servant to Sherborn with Medicines, & my Letter to my Son. Mr Franklin, Mr. Johnson, Mr Nooth, & Mr Gravel came, to require me to have the Lease I had from them the last Month exchanged for another with a Covenant against having a Door into Mr Pierce’s Backside. But I utterly refused it. Some of them, particularly Franklin affirm’d that All the Vicars were to have Keys to my Passage into Close-Hall; Which I told them, was so far from being True, That None of them were to have any Key, nor any one else out of my own House. 24 Mr Burland & his Whole Family, Mr Lucas, & Mr Swarbrick Dined. We eat a Hare stewd presented to me by Stephen Maid. I read to my Family in the Lady’s Calling. 26 I turn’d off my Servant Charles Cook (whom I had warned away long before Michaelmass to get another Place at Our Lady-day next,) Because he was too much in favour with my Servant Hannah Beal, & was bolted into his Chamber with her Sunday Oct: 3 for a con¬ siderable time; At length Mr Bragg’s Coach-Man (having a Mind to disturb them) pretended to go into the Chamber for Oates for his Horses: But the Door being fastend, he beat against it, & swore he would break it open; And was at last let in, where they both were. When I gave him 10s for 27 days since Michael- mass, he was not contented, & Swore often, ’till I threatend him to make him pay for Swearing 3 times. By God. He boasted on his good Service he had done; And I ask’d him whether it was in his making 16 Loads of Hay last my, sometimes 3, & never more than 4 Horses, at nights only Half a Year, or in Will Clark doing his Work for him at my Charge, or for looking after the Peck of Snails Mr Swarbrick saw together in the Garden, Or looking after the Grounds I had in Hand at Dulcot. He answer’d he did not know my Grounds at Dulcot. ... I don’t remember any such thing nor You neither. I then said to him You Impu¬ dent Raskal do you give me the Lye? Get You out & never come hither again any more. He return’d no more, & went out of the Kitchin grumbling: But

123 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

what he say’d I did not hear. Afterwards he sent Will Clark to my Study Door, for a Character of him. And I answer’d I would give none: For he had not behaved himself, for me to give him a good one. Oct. 31 Mr Lucas, Mr Swarbrick, Sc T. Beal Hannah Beal’s Father Dined. I told Beal of his Daughter’s Foolish Match she resolv’d on.1 Nov. 1 Mr Johnson & Mr Nooth, the Two Principals of Close-Hall came from their Society conven’d by the Bishop’s [wish] to desire or order me to admit a Clause in my Lease executed by that Body Sept: 1, & brought to me Sept: 8, by the Principals, Seniors, & their Steward, to Stopp up my Door into Mr Pierce’s House: Otherwise they would go to Law with me; And the Bishop would joine with them in the Expense. I absolutely deny’d to do it. They own’d that the Clause (of having no Door into College-lane) was never inserted in any Lease to Mr Poulet, Mrs Poulet, nor any other that had it ’till Dr Chreyghton or Dr Lang had, who desired to have it: Neither was it in my last Lease which I surrenderd at my renewal of my Years in the Houses, Sc accepting of this. I said I could not imagine why the Bishop had such an Animosity to me, unless it was for my bestowing two Years Labour with Mr Prowse to prevail with him to Marry his Daughter. 3 I went to Bath, Sc Inned at Mr Shorts at the White Hart. In the Evening [I] went to Mr Harrison’s House. ... I stay’d not long; but afterwards went into Harrison’s Great Room, Sc looked on some losing their Money at the Ace of Hearts.2 4 I saw Mr Mills of Croiden in the Pump-room. He & I went to Mr Greenway’s, that I might speak with him about Vases which I had a mind to put on the Top of mine House, instead of the Rails Sc Ballisters now decay’d.3

11.e. with Charles Cook. 2 Bath was notorious for its gambling at this time. Harrison’s Rooms, afterwards Simpson’s, were on the South Walks. 3 Greenway was a well-known stone mason who in 1720 built the 124 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

Nov. 9 I went to the Miter, it being the Day of the Sessions of Sewers, Sc with other Commissioners, I Dined there. We went to the Hall. A Petition against making a Clye in Kennard-Moore, which had been a Year Sc more ago order’d by the Court to be made, was deliver’d into the Commissioners, sign’d by a great number of Glaston¬ bury Men (the very same which, before the Order, desir’d the Commissioners to see that place where the River came in, on a Flood, Sc cover’d many Acres;) Met them there & desir’d a Clye might be set up to keep the Water out: But it was rejected; Sc another View of the Commissioners was deny’d. The Session was adjourn’d to the Mitre, for granting a Warrant for distraining for the recovery of the Money of some who were rated towards the Expense of Basing-Bridge, Sc refused to pay it. 15 Mr Johnson, Mr Nooth, & their Steward Tristram Evans came with their Book to shew me the Consent of their Body to Prosecute an Action, to stop up my Doors in Close-Hall: I told them I would defend my Cause as well as I could, being a just one. Sc agreed to when I bought the Houses, by the Vicars, Sc the promise of Connivance, hard winking, in the Bishops Letter to me, which encouraged them to do so. 16 I went to Somerton, Sc spake with Eliz: Biggs a Cook- Maid who lately came out of Mrs Hunt’s Service at Cumpton-Pansford. 20 Mr Broad, Mr Spittel, Sc Mr Dingelsteadt came, Supped, Sc Lodg’d at my House. . . . The three above-named & I made a Consort, Sc we play’d the 6th Opera of Bomporti all over. Finger’s two Sonatas which I would should be play’d at my Funeral, Sc two of Bassani’s Sonatas. 22 I prepar’d my Instruments for the Musick at Close- Hall, being our Caecilia Entertainment. Mr Broad, Mr Spittel, Mr Dingelsteadt, Mr Nikells, Sc Mr Wood the Post-Master, Dined. I was at our Caecilia-Musick. Dec. 1 I went (by Mr Hamilton’s desire) to the Meeting of the house afterwards known as Garrick House, in which Beau Nash lived for some years. 125 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Parish at the Church-House about Choosing an Organist at St. Cuthbert’s Church; I found Mr Hamilton’s reasonable Proposals, To first agree on a Salarie for him, generally rejected; And a great Majority for Miller, because he (being but a mean Performer) would accept 13L a Year; I therefore when voting was proposed, went home again. Dec. 5 I lent my Sedan to Mr Baron of New-street to carry him both morning & evening to the Cathedral. 7 Visited Mr John Taylor & his Bride. I was at our Musick-Meeting. Weather Rainy & about 7 such a Tempestious Wind that it was for a little while thought equal to that in 1723.1 My Hey-ricks in Moor-Meads, & at home were blown down, & some of the Tiles of My Dwelling-House, Stables, & my House in Close- Hall were blown off. 12 Mr Burland, my Daughter, Mrs Anne Dutton, Mr Lucas, & Mr Swarbrick, being invited to a Stew’d Rump of Beef, & a Goose, Dined. 15 About 3 my Son came home from Sherborn, & Tom- mey Farewell with him. My Daughter & Mrs Anne Dutton came with him from his Horse. 18 I put the Bottles of Peache’s Claret into the Hole in the Inner Cellar. ... I put 2 dozen & 9 Bottles, the remainder of the Herriford Hogshead of cider then just bottled, into a Tubb with Hay that it might be¬ come fit to be drunk this day sevennight. 29 Bettey Biggs who came to me as a Servant Monday Dec: 20, having been told by Will Clark that I would allow of no Sweet-hart to come to a Maid-Servant in my House, came to me & said Though she could very easily do the Work of my House; Yet she could [not] take the Care of it, nor Buy Things proper to be spent in it; And she could not be settled in it; & therefore desir’d she might be at liberty to return to Somerton by the Corn-Jobbers. Which she did. 31 Mrs Bettey came with her Daughter Margaret to offer her as a Servant. I told her I thought my Daughter had

1 Perhaps he means 1703 when the great storm occurred in which Bishop Kidder was killed. 126 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

gotten one for me already. Mrs Tike brought me a large Simnel for a Present. I went to Mrs Simms to know how Margaret Bettey behaved her self in her Service, who gave her a Good Character: I afterwards went to consult about taking her, with my Daughter. 1726 Jan. 1 Mrs Bettey Sc her Daughter Margaret came to me & I agreed to take Margaret as my Servant. 7 Mr Greenway of Bath came. Sc He agreed with me to make 10 Vases or Urns, of 3 F or a little more high with a broad Foot, the Urn Fluted, with Leafage in the Body; The Cover Fluted Sc Guddornd, Sc Flame at the top, Sc the Body was to be hollow’d out to render each as light as well might be. He promis’d they should be all very neatly made. Sc of Stone that should (not) be broken by any Weather. I was to pay for the Carriage of them hither at 2s - 6d a Horse: And he suppos’d they would be 8 Horse-Loads. I was to give him 10s a piece for them: 14 I placed the Bottles drawn out of the First Hogshead in the Outer Cellar, which was Tapp’d on Christmass- Day, being excellent Beer, in the 2d, Nest in the Great Cage. I Cleansed my Study Clock in about 4 hours. 17 I went with my Son Sc Mr Tommey Farewell, to have them back to Sherborn School; they both were carryed in my Calesh, Sc I rode on Horse-back; We set out at 8 a clock; stay’d 2 hours at Ansford-Inn, Sc came by Yarlington to the Crown in Sherborn by 5. 19 I came from Sherborn in my Calesh (which George Champion Drove) at 9. I call’d at Henry Bulls at Hatspen, but stay’d not a quarter of an hour. 22 I cut a quire of Paper, Sc Scented Snuff. 26 I went to get Mr. George Mattocks to go with me to-morrow to Sadborrow from the news of Mr Bragge being charged by the Government to pay 12000L for avoiding to pay Custom on Goods brought in his Shipps.1

1 It is pretty clear that the Bragges had been engaged in extensive smuggling operations, and that the wine Morris got from them was contraband. 127 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Jan. 27 I went to Sadborrow. I called on Mr Cook & his wife at Thorncome, & stay’d Discoursing of Mr Bragg’s Management & his Contracting vast Debts.1 I lodg’d at Sadborrow. Mr Wills the Chaplain was turn’d off. 3 Maid-Servants were this day turn’d away. 28 Farmer Pierce came to me at Sadborrow. He showed me the ashes by the house which he would have cut down for Plowboot.2 29 I writ a letter to send to Mr Pope of Sherborne that he might acquaint his son Tom in Portland that I had prevail’d with my Nephew Bragge to give him the Presentation to Burstock. Feb. 1 I bought of Mr Penny 2 Silver Spoons & Gave them to Hannah Beal for Good-Handsel, She being to be Married tomorrow. Though against my Good-liking: But the Servant which was to come in her Place at Christmas last disappointed me; & She stay’d ’till I was provided with another, ’till now. 23 Ash-Wednesday. I was one of the Pall-Bearers at Mr Giles’s Funeral.

25 Mr Salmon & Mr Day came, & Mr Salmon & I signed in the Steward’s (Mr Day’s Court-Book) Steward for my Lord Brook’s Manour the Exchange we made in Dulcot.3 Mar. 2 Mr Charles Brown came, going to Oxford, & I sent by him 5 Guineas to my Cousin George Farewell. 10 I directed my Man Stephen, & Bett Edwards in Brewing Strong-Beer. ... I was one of the Pall-Bearers at Mr Sheerstone’s Funeral. 11 Mr Green way of Bath came, & his Carrier brought me the Flames for the 10 Vases I on Wednesday receiv’d from him. He also, from Mr. Hamilton’s brought me

1 My nephew Bragge was evidently an extravagant person. He often appears in Wells staying with Morris and on one occasion he arrived with four servants, eight horses and a coach. 2 Plowboot included the right of cutting wood for making ploughs, and appears in many leases together with other rights dating from feudal times. 3 I.e. between Lord Brooke, the Chapter, the Vicar’s Choral and Morris himself. 128 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

that I might see them one large Vase, & 2 Flower Potts, which he because he would not carry them back to Bath afforded me for 20s. So for these, & the 10 smaller Vases for the Top of my House & the carriage of the 10 Vases (at 2s - 6d a Horse) I pay’d him 6L - 12s - o6d. Feb. 12 Visited Mr Phelips’s Child at Preston, Mr Palmer of Montacute coming for me yesterday about 5. I came to Preston about 3: And Dr Williams of Exeter being also yesterday sent for, I only mention’d what I thought advisable; But declin’d to prescribe anything before he came. I went with Mrs Edith Phelips, Mrs Merryfield (of Shaftsbury) & Mrs Mitchel, in their Coach, & Lodg’d at Montacute. 13 Mrs Edith Phelips, Mrs Merryweather, & I, went (about 10) in the Coach to Preston, Dr Williams having sent word he would be at Preston by 11. About 12a clock, in an hired Chaise & 6 Horses, he came; We dined there. I propos’d giving the child oz vj or vij of Calomel, which the Dr was not [willing] to come into; But was earnest for giving Crabbs-[Tincture] wash’d down with a Julep of Milk-water & Lemon-Water Sweetened with Syrup of Vioflets?].1 [I being very] earnest for the Calomel, the Doctor at last ventur’d to agree to it: But would come up but to 4 grains of the 7 I mention’d; & to be joind with 6 grains of Rhubarb, & made into a Paste with Syrup of Succory. This was then given; & the Child of 11 months old cast out much Slime by Vomiting twice & Purging thrice. It was very sinsibly amended. I return’d with the Ladies to Monta¬ cute. 17 I went to Tom Parfit’s to bespeak of him Yewen Pins to join the Parts of the Stone Vases. I put to each Pint of the Lemon-juice [squeezed from 7 Lemons the day before] thrice strained through a Flannel-Bag, 4 Pints of French Brandy, & bottled it being 16 Quarts. 21 Mrs Pitt came & Dined. Her business was, for me to Attest the Incapacity of her Husbands Father to Make a Will or Codicil to one. 29 Mr Long’s Servant came & brought me a Scarf, Hat-

1 MS. defective. 1 129 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

band, Black Shamway Mourning Gloves, & a Ring; Being (as he said) a Pall-Bearer with Colonel Berkeley, Colonel Horner, Colonel Brown, Mr Rider, & Mr Mar¬ tin, to his late Mistress who was Buried yesterday. None of us were at the Funeral. Mar. 31 I carried to Mrs Pitt a Draught of what I could Affirm about Old Mr Pitt’s unfitness to make a Will. Colonel Speak was there. Apr. 3 I was sent to, to Speak with Mrs Catharine Thomson & Mrs Mattey Baron, in the Walk betwixt Mr Baron’s Garden, & Barkham’s Close; which I did: And I ad¬ vis’d the giving Miss Anne [Baron] 2 scruples of Mithri- date in a Glass of White Li(s)bone-Wine & Water. 10 Easter Day. I received the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. The Dean Preach’d. 11 I went to West Bradley, & Inspected the Parish Accounts, & cast them up as I have usually done on Easter-Monday. 16 I went with Mr Andrew Gold from the White-Horse to Mr Goldfinche’s; And I attested upon my Oath & under my Hand what was mine Opinion of Old Mr Pitts Capacity to Make a Will. He & I drank a Pint of White-wine afterwards at the White Horse. 19 I offer’d Old Pain to give him the Ash in my Ditch betwixt my Alderley’s-Close & his Rie-close, if he would have it cut down. And he said he would not; for ’twas all the Trees he had on that Ground. I told him of his [having] Young Ash-trees planted so near my Ditch, that [when] they were grown up they would spoil my Hedge. [He said] He had receiv’d much injury by me [carrying] away his Soil.1 I told him he lyed & I wondered he would come to Church who in all his Actions observ’d so little the Law of God & Nature, in Doing as he would be done to. For certain he would go to the Devil hereafter. He answer’d You are no Judge of that. I reply’d I was not to give sentence or consigne him to his deserved Punishment: But his Actions too much discoverd him, & [I] saw his Doom in the Scriptures, the law of God: And if he

1 MS. defective. 130 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

Acted like the Devil I could discern no reason why he should not be with him: For he was a very great Rascal, & the most Worthless Fellow in England that had acquired an Estate. Apr. 20 I made a False Scabbard against my Journey intended to Morrow. ... I made an Amalgam & Salve for my Sons Ganglion; & I made a Hollow Plate of Lead & fitted it to his Wrist. 22 I breakfasted with Mr Wilding, & Pay’d him, for my Son’s Schooling Tabling & other Things. . . . Mr Bragge went with me & my Cousin Tom Pope, & Dined with me at the Crown on 3 fine cold Trouts. ... I came from Sherborn after 1 a clock. I call’d at the new Inn for Mr Baron & Mr Mattocks who had not quite Dined: So I went on slowly, & they overtook me behither North-Cadbury. 23 Our Weekly Meeting was at my House: I had a Quarter of Lamb; And Mr Hamilton, Mr Burland, & Mr Lucas were thereat, & stay’d ’till almost 12. May 1 Mr Burland & my Daughter came to Congratulate me on my Birthday I being now 67 Years Old. I read to my Family in the Preface & first beginning of the Govern¬ ment of the Tongue. 12 I visited Mr Bragge at Sadborow. 13 I came away from Sadborrow after 1. I baited both my Horses, & my self at Mr Fisher’s at Somerton; He importuning me to do so, because the Red Lion Inn was full of Company by means of a Cudgel Match for 8 Guineas there: 20 I was taken ill at Horsington, occasion’d by Transpira¬ tion hinder’d by going out of my Bed at 4 a clock in [the] Morning & walking in the Garden above an hour with only my Bed Night-Gound on. About 9 or 10, my Son came to me thither from Sherborn-School. We had a Shoulder of Mutton for Dinner; But neither of us could eat 2 Bitts. ... We came away from Horsington at half an hour past 1; at Prestley a great (Rain) falling, with Thunder & Lightning. 25 Lined out the Places in the Oval for the Vase & Flower- Potts. 28 Our Weekly-Meeting was at my House; Mr Hamilton, 131 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Mr Burland, & Mr Lucas were there. I had 6 Makres [i.e. mackerel] of 4d, a piece; And a Bowl of the finest Punch, very much commended, & made after my manner. Weather: Some Sun, some Clouds & a very great storm of Rain, Lightning, & a continued & un¬ usual Thunder, one Clap of which lasted & rumbled for at least half an hour. June 2 I went to Mr Burland’s & Breakfasted, & my Son took Horse there, & went, with Mr Burland, to Binnegar Fair. 9 At 12 I went to the Mitre & Dined with the rest of the Commissioners of the Sewers, we having a Court this day. We went to the Hall & had a Session. Arnold of Glastonbury was Fined for Contempt of the Court— ioL. 10 I was ill of a Cold, & seem’d to be assaulted with a Fit of an Ague. 11 Mr Cupper Let me Blood in my Left Arm & took off 02. xviij. My Tenant C[h]appel came about an Appren¬ tice Boy which Worle-Parish was about to have put on the North House: And to make two Farms of Ebdon.1 15 Mr Goldfinch sent up by his Clerk Mr Thomas Hughes the Sheriff’s Warrant deliver’d to him by Everet a Bailif for Arresting me & Will Clark, at the Vicar’s Suit, for Cutting down the Bar & Post that were set up before my Door to keep me from the Court of mine upper House in Close into the Common Alley there, (which I did June ist); I desired, by Mr Hughes, Mr Goldfinch to Appear for me in this Action, & to defend my Right in it. 16 Mr Burland, my Daughter, Mrs Apthorp, Miss Conduit, & the Children came, to Wish my Son a good Journey to Sherborn. He & I set out for his Returning to Mr Wilding’s School after n. We baited & stay’d above i hour & half at Ansford-Inn; Went by little Woolson & were at the Crown in Sherborn by 6. 23 I had a Subpoena deliver’d to me by Mr Avis out of Chancery, at the Suit of the Vicars, just as I was taking

1 Parishes had the power of assigning farm apprentices to certain houses or farms. 132 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

Horse, at 7 a Clock in [the] morning, for Worle. I went to Mr Stars at Worle on account of a Parish Apprentice which was to be put on the North-Farm at Ebdon; My Tenant Chappel met me there: And Mr Star shew’d me a Survey of the Manour of Worle, wherein it was mention’d that One Moyty of Ebdon- Farm was in the Hands of the Lord, & the Grounds & Acres express’d. We all Three went to Weston to Young Mr Piggot [Lord of the Manor] & shew’d him this Survey; And I desir’d him if the Boy was put on me that it might be signified that it was for the whole Farm; For I was not willing to have it thus divided into two. June 25 The Governor of Libanus in his Turkish Habit with his Interpitor & Servants (turned out of his Govournment by the Basshaw) came with the Secretary of State’s Pass & Recommendation for Charity; And I gave him Half a Guinea. 28 I sent my Servant & desir’d all of our Musick-Clubb lately kept in Close-Hall to meet me & other Clubbers, at the Mitre in Saddler’s-street, this day at 7 a clock. About half an hour past 6, I went to the Mitre, & in some time after the following Members of the Clubb came one after another. The Honourable George Hamilton Esqre, Mr Burland, Mr Comes, Mr Lucas, Captain Penny, Mr Tutton, Mr Cupper, Mr Taylor, Mr Hillard, Mr Long, Mr Slade, Mr Broadway, Mr Nikells, & Mr Cunnington. About 9 a clock when I thought all that would be there were [come] I ask’d the Company what they would be pleas’d [to do with] the Clubb-Money I had th(i)ther brought, putting [it all of] which there were—9L - 6s - 8|d, on the Table.1 Some answer’d I should put it to the Vote. I then ask’d each particular Person. Some said the Money should be given to some Poor People: And some, especially the three Vicars, it should be disposed of as I thought fit, as most if not all of the Society at first, ’till I declined it, said. At last we all agreed to give it to some Indigent Persons, & it was concluded that

1 M.S. defective. H3 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

John Chapman should have . . . 3L Grace Pierce ..... 2L Mary Pidge (recommended by Mr Comes) . 2L The Widow Alexander . . . . iL Edward Alford & his Aunt in Wet-lane . iL Margaret Brent, below the Star . . iL I was to give Mrs Bell 5 s which I said I would make up with my own money, so I should be out of pocket 2s. 5^d. We all agreed except the Vicars to have a Clubb every Tuesday Night (as before) at the Mitre & when we had Hands to have Musick.1 July 5 I was at our Musick-Clubb at the Mitre. I went in & Supped, at Mr Burland’s. 11 I had a Consort of Musick at my House, & I invited Mr Taylor, Mr Prickman, Mr Nikells, Mr Boulting, Mr Tutton, Mr Broadway, Mr Slade, Captain Penny, Mr Lucas, Mr Burland, & Mr Comes junr, who all came: I gave them for Supper a Cold Shoulder of Mutton, a Cold Breast of Veal, a Sallet, a Couple of Neat’s Tongues; & I had for them a Bowl of Ponch, a Bottle of Claret, Many Bottles of October-Beer, & Ale. We play’d all Tibaldi’s Sonates. And the Company, many of them stay’d till past 1 a clock. 19 Mr Burland & I went to the Rose & Crown in Glaston¬ bury to talk with Masons about building the Clye in Kennard-Moor. I cast up the Charge of it, & at last Agreed with John Evil of Kington, & Joseph Allen of Barton, for them to do the whole work for 25L. 22 I went with my Daughter & Mrs Apthorp, to the Crown where Power’s Company of Players Acted (for the Benefit of Mr Copen), & I gave them the Diversion of the Comedy call’d Love for Love: 23 My Tenant Chappel of Ebdon came & brought to me John [blank] Apprenticed on me for the North-Farm at Ebdon.

1 This winding up of the Music Club in Close-Hall, after a life of over thirty years was no doubt due to the trouble about the doorway previously mentioned. Morris had always managed the finances of the Club and frequently records paying bills for them. D4 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ DIARY

25 Mr John Bragge, & Mr Thomas Pope came, Supp’d & Lodged at mine House. I pounded 27 Drams of Maccaroons & with it mix’d 4 Scruples of white Arsnic powder’d, & with Brandy made a Paste for the Ratts. 29 On Thursday night I mixd with the Fowles-Meat a Fortieth part of White Arsnick, on a large Tile, & yesterday morning it was all eaten up; & this day in the Forenoon, 5 or 6 Pullets, out of Ten died: I suppose they pick’d up some of the Barley-Meal which was mix’d (as above) with Ratts-Bane; Though I cannot imagine how they could, being confined in the two partitions of their Coop. . 3 The Court of Sewers being, according to an Adjourn¬ ment on June 27, to be this day held at the George in Glanstonbury, Mr Burland & I went thither. ... We went & viewd the Klei [Cly] near North-over, Pons Periculosus, & the Water-Course under the Tann- House, & then return’d throw Beckery Mill to Bene¬ dict’s Parish, to the George, Where we Dined; & the Contract betwixt the Masons who are to set up the Klei at Kennard-Moor & the Expenditors, after Mr Perriam (whom I sent for to make the number of the Commis¬ sioners Six) was come, was signed. 8 I still continued Ill from my Cold with a Rheumatick Fever, which was by little & little every day encreas’d on me; And by my most violent Cough with a discharge at last of thick Pus; Fainty Night-Sweating, & quick decay of my Flesh, I perceiv’d myself under a Con¬ sumption & a growing Phthisis; I could not eat any thing all this day, but a Dish of Herb-Porridg for Dinner & a Dish of Chocalate & Bread weaken’d & thinn’d with Milk for Supper. Wrote 2 Prescriptions. My Daughter came, & I drank 2 Glasses of Port-Wine. 9 I continued Ill with my Cold. Wrote a Prescription. I eat only all this day a Dish of Herb Porridg, & in the Evening a Dish of Chockalate & Milk with Bread. Dr Lang visited me before Noon, & Mr Lucas about 6 in the Evening. I receiv’d a Letter from Mr Thomas Pope at Ilminster which on the desire of Mrs Pattey Drew he writ me, that I should, as if by Chance Visit Mr Bragg who was so weak he could hardly crawl D5 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

up Stairs. I sent my Daughter with this Letter to Mrs Anne Drew, that she might acquaint her Sister that I was not able to [get] a quarter so far: And that it would be proper to send for some other Physician to assist him. Aug. io I was a little better, but my severe Cough continued— Prescribed. Mrs Apthorp, my Daughter, Mr Lucas, & Mr Burland came, & Supped. 11 I continued affected with a very severe Cough. My Daughter came.—Wrote 2 Prescriptions. 12 I continued kept within doors with my Cough. My Daughter came.—I had my Churred Ale begun to be destill’d off my Alembick. My Tenant Chappel came, & pay’d his Year’s Rent to Our Lady-day. He supped & Lodged at my House.1

1 Here the diary ends, but as it is the end of the book it is uncertain whether he continued it in another volume or not. The last entries are very clear and show no signs of weakness. He seems to have rallied and lived some months longer, till March, 1726-27, but there is no further record.

136 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ ACCOUNTS

RECEPTA 1685 £-s-d Octob: From ye Duke of Suffolk for a Quarter’s Rent for our House (on ye West side of Crane-Court) due at Michaelmas last 09:- 1685 March I Received from my Aunt Willoughby of Knoyle in part of 24s laid out by my Wife for a night-gown for Capt: Wil¬ loughby 01-00-00

For my Advice & Prescriptions in Physick June 16 Of Captain Piers of Wells a Guinea 01-01-06 1690 Oct: 16 Of Mr Grove of Zeales 01-01-06 17 Of ye Right Honourable ye Lady Vis¬ countess Weymouth 01-01-06 1691 May 12 Of Colonel St Loe of Little Fontmell in Dors1 03-04-06 June 6 Of a Woman yt would not be known 00-10-00 1692 May 23 Of My Lord Bp Kidder 01-01-06 May 24 Of Mr Gravener of Vbley 00-10-00 Sept: 12 Of Mine Heere Copeman 01-01-06 1694 Jan: 5 Of Mrs Arnold in London 01-04-00 Of Mfs Dorothy Cocks 02-08-00 Of the Earl of Roscommon in London 06-00-00 Feb: 18 Of Colonel Fust for his Lady at Portshead 03-12-00 1695 July 24 Of Colonel Fust at Hull in Glouestershire 04-00-00 27 Of Frances Spencer of Dreycourt 00-02-06 Oct: 5 Of Mrs Porch of Glastonbury 00-02-06 Nov: 5 Of M^ white a Half Carolus 00-17-00 Jan: 21 Of Mrs pust at Morton in Gloucester¬ shire 2G 03-00-00 H7 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

1700 July 15 I Receiv’d then from Mr Peter Davis a Bank Bill for 390^-14-06. which I had for my Orphans Money in the Chamber which in ye 2 Acknowledgements I had was 485£-7s-iid! Mar: 7 Of Mr Brawn, by way of Return out of the Bank of England, what my Wife Grace’s Orphans Money being 500=6 in the Chamber of London yielded me 390-00-06 1701 Mar: 2 From Mf Knight in earnest, & as part of the -630:6 which he agreed to give me for my biggest House in Crane-Court with the Shares of the Ground-rent, belonging to both my Houses there accruing after Charities with which it is Loaden are discharged; He indemnitying the lesser House from this Charity 05-07-06 I7°4 In Dulcote I bought of Mrs Miller as follows: July 13 The Dean & Chapters Land—King’s Hay’s-End, an old (Sister that has Com¬ mon in Sedge-moor, Cranill-moor, Pill- moor, Hay-moor, 1 Acre . . . The Vicars’ Land— Stean’s Hay, an old Oister that has Common as above—1 Acre

Debts & their Interest 1716 June 9 Of Mr Wroth, for the Wood he had of mine to Melt the Mettle when he Cast the Great Bell at the Cathedral call’d Hare well 01-00-00 Sept: 7 Of Thomas Lovel for keeping 25 Hogg- Sheep from All-Saint’s to Candlemass-day at i9d 01-19-07 22 Mrs Pierce, the School-Mistress, Bargain’d with me to give me 2=6-15 s-oo an year, for the before mention’d House; & I am to make her a Dore, out of College-lane 08 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ ACCOUNTS £~s—d into the little Pack-side. And I am to keep the Coach-House in my own Hands Dec: 19 Of Mrs Evans what she thought fit to present my Wife for Living at my House with her Maid, 11 Months, from Jan: 18 last to this day 20 Moiders in a very fine Cloath of Silver Purse 27-10-00

For my Advice in Physick 1716 i 1 0 N> O Jan: 16 Of my Lady Phelips, of Montacute O O UJ Feb: 14 Of my Lord Conway at Sandiwell in Glocestershire I2-18-00 15 Of Mr George Mattocks 01-01-06 N M 0 0 0 1 June 28 Of Colonel Hales, of Cottles, in Wiltshire 1 Sept: 20 Of Mr Trevillian, of Curry-Rivell, now at Somerton 01-07-06

Debts & their Interest *7*7 May 31 Of Mr Charles Taylor what he long since ow’d me on the Account of his going to Cock-fighting 00-05-00 Aug: 2 For Scenting 1 lb of Snuff 00-02-06

Miscellaneous Keceipts

May 3 Of my Mother, which she desir’d me to take towards defraying the Expense of her Funeral, if I liv’d to Bury her 10-00-00 1718 Oct: 23 Of Mr George Mattocks, for 1 Fourth part of the Gallicia Wine I had from Bridg¬ water, July 19-1717 02-00-06-I 1719 Dec: 24 Of Mfs Evans, for a year’s Sojourning at my House for her self & her Maid, ending Nov: 28 (Her time at Bath) My Wife reservd of this Money 2 Guineas 31 10 00 09 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Of Mr Aish, what remain’d due to my Wife as One of the Executors to her Sister, out of 966£-9s-od after several -£—s—d Legacies were Discharg’d 12-04-06 1720 Mar: 12 Of John Simms of Wookey (late of Westholm) what was, till now, owing to me on a Bond of 11 years & 5 months stand; after I had accounted with him & forgiven him -2^-9s-od (14s of it being pay’d for Law-Charge) 11-06-00

From Puridge 1722 Nov: 10 Of John Nurse what he sold 2lb| of Elming-Faggots for -15 s; & for Thorn- ing Faggots which he had himself -4s which I took out in Work & 3s which he is to allow me more, in work about Staking in the Fir-trees 00-15-00

Nov: 29 Of my Lady Davie at Sir George Chud- leys beyond Exeter 12-12-00 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ ACCOUNTS

EXPENSA

October ye 13 An: Dorn: 1685 I was Marryed to Mistress Grace Green of London by Dr Littleton at Chelsy near London.

Money Laid out—1685 £- s-d Nov: To the Insuring Office in Thread-needle street for Insuring our 2 houses in Crane- court—7 yeares 10-00-00 March For grounding 2 pieces of bone-lace for a Cravat for my selfe 00-05-00

Money "Laid out since Our Lady Day Anno Domini— 16861

1686 For Household Stuffe as following— 27 April Bought of Df Smith— A Dozen & \ of Turkey work Chaires 07-02-06 10 Leather Chaires 01-00-00 a Brewing Fatte with an oyle Hogshead & 2 shoots 00-12-00 a Halfe-Hogshead & 5 little Barrells 00-12-00 12 Dozen of quart-glass Bottles at A 01-04-00 2 Long Cooling Trendies, a Kieving- Tubb, 3 little Covels, 2 Bottle-Cages, & an old Napkin-Press 00-16-00 a Corn-Pike 00-01-06

1 It was usual in Claver Morris’s time to reckon the years as begining and ending at Lady Day (March 25). 141 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN £—s—d 1686 July 27 For the Pontadoe Bed— A Slope Tester Frame & Spriggs OO-O9-OO 31 yards of white Calacoe at iod OI-O5-IO 27 | of white Fringe at 8d OO-I8-06 Rings Incle & making ye Curtains & Vallians 00—06—06 Staples, thread, tape, & fitting ye Slope- testar cannopy, head cortains, & 2 post¬ cases 00-10-00 18 yds J of Broad Pontadoe at 18d 01-07-09 28 \ worsted & thread Fring 7d 00-16-08 Bockrom for ye Vallians 00-03-00 Rings Incle & making 00-06-06

06-O3-O9

For ye Purple Bedd 20 yds of Purple Pointed Dutty at xod 00-16-08 28 yds J of worsted Fring at 5d 00-11-09 Bockrom for ye Vallians 00-03-00 Rings Incle & Making the Courtains & Scollop-Vallians 00-06-06 Bockrom for a Tester 00-03-06 8 yds of Purple Print for a Tester & Head cloath 00-06-08

For ye Cantoon-Bedd 02-08-01 11 yds f of ye Best Broad Printed Stuff at 23d 01-02-06 14 yds J of worsted Fring, 5d 00-06-00 Girth-webb, thread, & Making ye Can- toon Courtaines 00-03-00

01-11-06

142 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ ACCOUNTS £—s—d 1686 Ap: 14 Bought of Mr Shepard of Wells— For 12 Peuter Platters, 62 lb at iod 02-1 X--08 halfe a dozen Alchymie spoons 00-01-06 July 3 For a Lauderdal Table-Board for ye little Parlor 4 feet long, 3 feet Broad with twist-leggs all of Walnut-tree wood 00-I2-00 May 8 For ye Carriage of my Wife’s Bedd from London weighing 1:122 OO-O9-OO ye Carriage of her Flat Box wtd her Grandmothers Picture OO-04-OO Ap: 20 For 5 dozen of Corkes 00-00-10 4 Sacks of Cole at 9^ 00-03-00 Ap: 24 To Mr Cupper for Mine, my Wife’s Sc my Boye’s Diet 9 daies & for my Maides 3 weeks, i2d 01-12-00 Ap: 30 Goloom, Sc Shaloon 00-00-06 ye Making my gey Coat OO-O4-06 May 7 For Oyl of Amber OO-OO-O9 May 22 For a Chaine for my Munkey 00-00-06 June 10 For a Rundlet of Claret of 10 gallons & 1 pint to Mf Andrew Shirley of Bristoll 01-08-00 July 28 For Drugs 00-01-06 Oct: 4 To ye French Protestants OO-O5-OO Oct: 5 To Mf Cupper for his Stomach water O O O O O 4 qts Sc 1 cp of Clove water 1 1 Laid out in London For 2 yds J ell of Broad-Cloath for my Coat 02-02-00 | & 1/8 of Mazzareen Cloath for Breeches OO-O7-OO 1 yd J Sc 1/8 of Gold threaded Tabby, for facing my Coat Sleeve OO-16-OO 4 yds of Persian Silk for Lining my Coat OO-16-OO THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN £—s-d 686 Oct. 11 dozen of Frost-gold Button oo-i8-06 of Gold Thread 00-06-00 Cutting ye Facing of ye Sleeves 00-02-06 a Sett of Shamwey Pockets and Lining to ye Br. 00-03-08 Stay-tape & fine drawing 00-01-06 Silk & Galoom 00-02-00 Canvas & Buckrom 00-01-00 i dozen of frosted breat Buttons 00-00-10 a pair of Poles 00-01-00 Making my Sute 00-12-00 For a pair of Mazzareen worsted Stockins for my Selfe 00-06-00 a Hatt (a Beverett) 01-01-06 For a Gold Hatt-Band 00-10-00 a yd | of Broad Cloath for a Pillian- Cloath 00-10-00 ye Fring for it 00-12-06 ye making it & for a Foot stool 00-05-06 For a Campaine Wigg for my Selfe 01-01-06 To Mr Hall for teaching me on ye Violin 01-00-00 For ye Setting my Diamond Ring 00-10-00 a Glass-light Candlestick 00-07-00 a semiglobe for it 00-02-00 a Scabbard & hoo to my Sword 00-02-06 an Apple-Roaster for my Sister 00-02-00 For Etmullen Opera Pharmaceutica Chymica 00-08-00 Dolcei Encyclopedia 00-07-00 Iones de Febribus Intermittentibus 00-02-06 Piveny Arcana 00-01-00 ye Binding ye Courtly Masquing Ayres 00-01-06 For a Walking Cane 00-08-00 a Box of Counters 6 doz 00-03-00 a Tortois-shell clos’d Knife & Fork 00-03-06 a Cork-Drawer 00-03-06 For Lining my Silk Breeches 00-08-00 a silk gore for ’em 00-01-00

144 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ ACCOUNTS £—s—d a Frame for ye Picture of Mfs Fissher 00-06-06 a pair of Copper-colourd Silk Stockins 00-12-00 ye Lining my Belt 00-02-06 So that Nov: 10 1686 when I came out of London I did not owe either Mr Hardres or Mr Tone or Any other Man or Woman there one Farthing. Nov: 10 My Expence at my Inne in London for my Selfe & my Horse 21 nights & to Servants about 02-00-00 1687 June 2 For 4 dozzen of Quart Bottles (at ye doore) at 23d a doz: & 1 doz: of Pottle Bottles 00-11-04 July 4 For an Yron Mortar OO 03 08 a pestle to it 00-02-04 July 25 For a halfe Yeare’s House-Rent, paid to James Tike for Mrs Evans, & for halfe a yeares Chimney-money for 7 chimneys 06-I7-OO Aug: 22 For making my Hair plush Breeches 00-02-00 ye Materials that made them OO-I9-II Oct: 25 For a Mangola Board 00-02-00 Nov: 18 For a Hogshead of Sider of one Hoskins near Chedder ye setting it upp & helping it into ye Cellar 00-00-10 Nov: 26 For a paire of Gambaders OO-O9-OO Dec: 24 To Willcocks for a pair of Stands OO-O7-OO a Mute Violin OO-O4-OO barring a lute 00-00-06 hairing a viol Bow 00-00-06 a Rowling Pinn 00-00-06 Feb: 16 To Wilcocks for framing the coats of Armes OO-O3-06 Mar: 10 a lb of ye Lamens of Copper 00-01-06 1688 June 18 For a Chedder Cheese of 321b 00-II-00 For the Interment of one of ye Best & Kindest of Wife’s—Who Dyed January ye 14, & was Buryed Jan: 18—1689 00 M 0 0 0 For 10 Rings 1 1 12 Escutcheons 03-12-00 145 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN £—s—d To The Mercer for yQ Palls 05-08-00 For Gloves 14 11 00 Wine & Spice at Weils ye Coffin 02-04-00 a Lac’d Shroud & Sute 00-19-00 Mourning for my Selfe Mourning for ye Maid 03-07-00 Mourning for ye Boy Wine at Manston 12 Dozen of Cakes there 01-04-00 6 Links 00-02-06 a Mourning Bridle & covering my Saddle 00-12-00 Ringing ye Great Bell at 4 8d p hour & for Fees to ye Church at Wells 01-00-00 Making ye Grave under the north end of ye Communion Table at Manston, & for Ringing ye Bell there 00-06-00 Dole to ye Poore at Wells 01-00-00 To Mr Long’s Coach-man 01-01-06 Madam Poulets Coach-man 00-05-00 Messengers & Horsehire 00-15-00 a Pair of Boots & Insshoons 00-11-00 a Silk Handkerchief 00-02-00 a Bassoon or Curtill 02-10-00 1689 Aug: 1 For Sr Walter Rawleigh’s Marrow of Hist: 00-02-00 Smetij Prosodia 00-02-00 Wilkins’s Mathematical Magick 00-02-06 Arts Treasury 00-01-00 a Sheet of Parchment 00-00-06 July For my Pole—it-ois, for my Practice— F-io8, & for my Boys Pole—Is 02-12-00 Mar: 13 For 2 yds of Macklin Lace of about 4 Inches broad for a Cravat 00-10-00 \ a yd of Narrow Lace to set it on 00-00-10 a Handcerchief of Staind Sattin 00-01-06 2 yards of Broad Bone-Lace for a Cravat 00-16-00 2 yards of Narrow Macklin-Lace for a Cravat 00—06—00 2 yds of narrow Macklin-Lace for Ruffles 00-03-00 146 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ ACCOUNTS 1690 s—d Aug: 18 I pay’d againe for my Pole is for being a Gentleman 20s for my Practice 30s & for my Boy is 02-12-00 June 21 For a Case of Pistolls 02-10-00 a Velvet Saddle, Holsters, Hoos & Bridle 09-I2-00 Jan: 28 At Bristow-Faire For a Cane with a Plate Head 01-00-00 6 Neats Tongues, of Mr Timothy Whar¬ ton at ye Signe of ye Hamme in High- street 00-11-00 3lb of Anchovies OO-O3-OO 6 dozen of Conical-Bottles of my owne invention 00-12-00 a paire of Stileards OO-O4-OO Feb: 13 To Mr Paynter for 3 yds J of Calaminco at 3 2 p yd 00-10-04 Money laid out for Housekeeping 34-00-00

Money Payd out since our Lady-Day Anno Domini 1691

At Oxon when I went out Doctor in Physick— Proceeding Grand-Compounder

June 30 To the Keeper of the Schools for signify¬ ing to the University that I would beginn to Read my Lectures on Friday following at 1 of ye clock & at 3, & at 8 on Satur¬ day in the morning 00-05-00 July 4 To ye Congregation for obtaining their leave to be admitted to the Degree of Doctor 00-03-00 July 6 When I was Presented Doctor in Physick To the University for Fees 56-12-02 To the under Servants of the University 00-16-06 For Gloves at my Presentation, to ye Faculty 05-07-06 For Sweet-Meats at my Circuiting, & Biskets at my Presentation 06-05-00 For Wine at my Circuiting, & Presenta¬ tion 05-01-00 147 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN £-s-d To the Hall as a Due ^£ as a Gift towards

their intended Building 6£ 10-00-00 For a Dish of Scotch-Collops, a Hash & 2 Dishes of Fowle for ye Hall 01-06-00 July 14 For the Loane of a Scarlet Gowne ’till

this day when I was admitted to Regency 00-10-00 For adding velvet to my Gowne, & Tufts 02-13-00 For a Doctor’s Capp 00-16-00

July 16 The Account for my Battles in the Hall to ye Quarter ending at Michaelmas next -2£-ns-o3d, From which I sub¬ ducted is which I left in ye Manciples Hands when I passed through Oxon Feb: or March 1688, & pay’d 01-11-03 My Horses at the Livery Stable besides at ye Inne stood me in 01-04-00 For a Horse-Trunk 00-12-00 a Gold Hat-Band 00-09-00 July 17 I came into London where I expended For exchanging my Sword which was valued at z$£ for a Chas’d Steel one 00-15-00 For a Riding Scabbard 00-03-00 I pay’d Mr Robinson for a Bever, & a Felt Hatt 03-10-00 For a Belt 00-10-06 For a Long Wigg 02-15-00 For a Blunderbuss 01-09-00 For a pair of Buttons with my Wife’s Hair set in Gold—35 s, & for a Locquet with her Hair & my Daughter’s -15 s 02-10-00 Sept: 17 For a Port-mantue Saddle & Girses 00-14-00 Altering ye Mail Fillian 00-01-02 other things had from Stoak the Saddler at several times 00-08-10 EXTRACTS FROM DR. CLAVER MORRIS’ ACCOUNTS £—s~ 1692 May 27 For a paire of Spurrs for my Splatter- daishes oo 01-02 June 2 For the Iron-work of my then contriv’d Buckles is; For ye Silver-work, 2s; For ye Silver 4s-6d; & For the Ingraving my Fancy on them 2s-6d; In all 00-10-00 June 8 For a paire of Sham-Boots 00-08-00 Irons to them 1693 July 8 For a Hatt 00-12-00 For a sett of Red Japan °3~°5-00 1694 Nov: 16 To M*s Mitchell in Sheare-lane for a Black Marble Tombstone of 6| Feet long & Feet broad, with Armes, Mantling & Cress, emboss’d; Sc Inscription cutt all packed up for my deare Wife 09-08-06 For Bringing it from London to Mans ton by Land Sc Sea 01-06-06 For Laying it 00-04-00

In London Herodias’s Daughter Dancing, a Picture 00-14-06 Our Saviour on the Cross 00-02-06 Cardinal Wolsey 00-02-06 a little Landscript 00-03-00 a Pocket Tinder Box 00-03-00 Buckles for my Shoos 00-01-06 a Movable Lock for a Doore 00-01-06 1696 Oct: 19 To Lambert the Collector, the Tax for being a Widdower—half a years pay 00-13-00 Jan: 9 To Lambert the Collector for the Tax for my Marriage 05-02-06

Note.—These extracts might be continued till the end of 1723, when the Account Books end. But enough has probably been extracted to satisfy the reader.—Editor.

149 * GLOSSARY

Alembic Glass or metal apparatus for distilling. Anker (or Anckor) . A cask holding io gallons. Calash (or Galaish) . A light carriage. Carolus . A gold coin, value 23s. Clye (or Klei) . A dam in a stream (now Clyse). Clyster . An enema. Curtail (or Curtoll) . A kind of bassoon. Electuary Powder mixed with jam. Gambedoes Leggings or leather stirrups. Gelat Jelly. Guggornd (or gad- Ornamented with convex curves. rooned) . Hansel A present for good luck. Haynd (or Haind) Shut up for hay (of a field). Incle Linen tape. Lustrings Glossy silk material. Mangola A game [of cards?]. Mantled Coated with scum or cream (of beer). Moidore A gold coin, value 27s. Oister (or astre) A hearth or plot of land with rights of Com¬ mon. Perambulator . A machine for measuring distances. Reen (or Rhine) A large ditch for drainage. Reeve (or Rive) An official of Commissioners of Sewers. Rocklow A cloak. Serous Consisting of animal watery fluid. Seton Thread drawn under skin (for surgical purposes). Splatterdashes . Mud leggings. Splens Prongs of a fork or spurs. Tables A board for playing games, e.g., back¬ gammon. Tamkin (or Tampion) A plug. Yee-grass Aftermath.

INDEX

Amesbury (Ambresbury), 85, B6 Farwell, Prebendary, 20, 51, 69 Alford, 99. Fasts, 89, 103 Finance and prices, 35-38 Banking, 35 Floods, 51 Baltonsbury Northwood, 44, Food and liquor, 21-24, 37 ^9> 75, 76, 79» 82~85 Bath, 64, 69, 73, 124 Games, 18-20, 57 -Music at, 88, 99, 124 Glastonbury, Common Moor, Bragge, Mr., 78, 122, 127, 128 44, 45 Bridges, Sergeant, 73-75 -distribution to the poor, Bristol (Bristow), 88, 92, 93 113, 114, 118 Brydges, Mr. Chancellour, 73, Gwyn, M.P., 90, 91 79, 85, 106, no, 118 Burland, Betty (see Morris, Hamilton, Hon. George, 91, Betty) 119 et passim Burland, John, 16 etpassim. Hestercomb, 66 Hieroglyphics, 18, 49 Cheddar Cliffs, 94 Hooper, Bishop, 52, 54, 61 Coinage, 36, 68 Horner, Colonel, 79, 87 Commons, enclosure of, 44, 45, Hyppesley, Preston, 94, 102 69, 81, 83, 91, 115, 116 Cook, Charles (man-servant), Ilchester, election of coroner, 63 123 Investments, 38 County Quarter Sessions, 60, 102 Keate, John, 16 Cox, hanged, 51 Keen, Mr. and Mrs., 54, 112- Crane Court, 137, 138, 141 116, 121 Creyghton, Dr., 65, 66 Kelston, concert at, 40, 64, 95, Cupper, Apothecary, 27, 29, 77 9 6, 107 Ken, Bishop, 51 Dawe, Miss Nancey, death of, Kidder, Bishop, 12, 137 16, 76, 77 Devises, no Land Tax Commission, 51, 52, Drugs, 27, 63, 129, 135 86, 98, 102, 104, 107, 114, 119 Dulcote, 54, 59, 116, 128, 138 Lease of house in Liberty, 124 Leigh, Mrs., 72 Ebdon, farm at, 95, 132, 133 Libanus, Governor of, 133 Edwards, M.P., 75, 91 Lucas, surgeon, 28, 61, 85, 90, Evans, Mrs., 139 et passim 95, 96, 99, 101 M3 THE DIARY OF A WEST COUNTRY PHYSICIAN

Lydlinch, 97 Morris, Molly, death of, 14,117 Lyme, 71 Morris, Mrs., Senr.: -will, 93, 97, 100 -death, 105, 139. Masbury Castle, 63 Morris, William: Mendips, 67, 95 -baptism, 5 7 Meteors, appearance of, 69, 72, -birth, 14, 56 73 -dress, 32 Montacute, 95, 129 -- education, 32-34 Morris, Betty (afterwards Betty -illness, 67 Burland): Music in Wells, 39-43 -ball, 60. Musick-Meetings, 51-53, 56, 58, -birth, 13 64, 65, 71, 74, 81-84, no, 114, -birth of son, 14, 78 125, 133, 134 -birth of daughter, 90 Nabb’s Hole, 54 -birth of second son, John, Nettlecomb, 65 109 -education, 31, 32, 58 Oister, 138 -marriage, 15, 66, 68 Oxen, pressed, 56 -reconciliation with father, 72 Oxford University, 147, 148 Morris, Dr. Claver: --birth and biography, 11-17 Papists, 59, 98, 102, 104, 114 -books, 6, 146 Parliamentary elections, 72-75, -clothes, 38, 143 89, 91 -daily life at Wells, 18-20 Peace with France, 5 2 -death, 17 Peirs, H., Esq., M.P., 36, 80 -epitaph, 46, 47 Piers, Wm., 91 -furnishing, 141, 142 Poulshot (Wilts), no -house in Wells, 13 Powlet, Earl, 71 -illnesses, 17, 55, 78, 86, Puridge, 62, 84, 97, 140 109, 119, 135, 136 -marriage with Grace Sacheverel, Dr., 61, 62, 79 Green, 11, 141 Sadborrow, 14, 70, 131 -marriage with Elizabeth Sewers Commission, 14, 57, jeans, 12 100, 101, in, 112, 119, 125, -marriage with Molly 132, 135 Bragge, 13, 14 Shepton Mallet (church organ), -medical practice, 25-30 4i -principal patients, 27 Sherborne School, 33, 34,91-93, -travelling, 26, 34 99,102,104, hi, 131,132 —— will, 48 Smallpox, 89, 118 Morris, Mrs. Grace, 138, 141, Smuggling, 22, 64, 69, 89, 100, 146, 149 112 04 INDEX

South Sea Company, 36, 79, 80, Warr, Sir Francis, 66 90 Weekly Society, 106, 108, 134 Stone-Easton, 94, 102 Wells, Cathedral, 54 Sweden, King of, killed, 67 -charity school, 106 -“Clubb,” 40, 42, 13 3-134 Taxes, 147, 149 -Dean of, 63, 80 Thunderstorms and tempests, -Grammar School, 85 i 5 70, 78> 126 --great bell, 138 Trevelian, Sir John, 65 -organ at St. Cuthbert’s, 41 West-Bradley, 82, 84, 106, 120 Vicars Choral of Wells, 121, Wilding, Benjamin, 33 124, 125, 132, 134 Wookey Hole, 54

Wages, 37 Yarlington, 92

D5

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